Recovering value from used medical instruments: a case study of laryngoscopes in England and Italy

The healthcare sector has a relevant environmental footprint because of the significant materials throughput, the hazardousness of certain wastes it generates and the energy intensive treatment necessary to manage them. Using semi-structured interviews carried out with stakeholders from hospitals in England and Italy, this study sought to understand how best to recover value from used laryngoscopes. The findings suggest that despite differences in the use of single use instruments and the presence of a dedicated waste management department, sites in both countries face similar challenges, including limited communication between procurement and waste management staff, staff engagement, and end markets. The implications of these challenges and strategies for overcoming them are discussed.