The 2012 Award, presented at the Green Nephrology Summit yesterday, has gone to Newcastle Renal Unit for their "baling and recycling" project, modelled on one of the early case studies in Green Nephrology. The project has increased the amount of plastic and cardboard waste being recycled in the Trust by 90 tonnes, resulting in savings of more than £7,000/year and 46 tonnes CO2e in just a few months.

The winner of the 2012 Green Nephrology Awards (to be announced at next week's Summit) will receive a £500 prize to invest in green initiatives. The prize, donated by a supporter and topped up with match funding from the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare, is to be awarded to the kidney unit submitting the best green project. 

Has your kidney unit successfully introduced a green change?  Help us to share and celebrate your achievements by entering the Green Nephrology Awards 2012, organised in partnership with NHS Kidney Care. Shortlisted entries will be exhibited in poster format at the Green Nephrology Summit on 26 September, and will be included in a themed issue of NHS Kidney Care’s e-newsletter, Kidney Care Matters.  Awards for outstanding entries will be presented at the Summit. Closing date: 10 September 2012.

The previous Green Nephrology fellowships have shown that leading a move to sustainable healthcare is a great educational opportunity for an individual, as well as being an exciting project to be involved with. Clinical fellowship schemes around the country offer a chance to include sustainability in quality improvement - can you help?

There has been discussion in the Green Nephrology Forum about recycling of bicarbonate containers on the dialysis unit. Many units are now recycling these, but others who would like to introduce recycling have been looking for reassurance with regard to health and safety. This blog summarises the available guidance on handling/disposal of the excess bicarbonate, and on infection control.