REDUCING the impact on the environment and providing jobs for local people were among the key factors behind a decision to extend an NHS waste management contract.

Waste management and recycling company Yorwaste has won a two-year contract extension valued at £500,000 to provide general services for hospitals in York and North and East Yorkshire.

The contract, which has been awarded by the York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, will involve more than 30,000 bin collections a year at York, Scarborough, Bridlington, Selby and Malton Hospitals, as well as some satellite sites.

The waste will be taken for processing to Yorwaste’s Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) at Harewood Whin, York, with an emphasis on recycling as much material as possible.

This includes cardboard, paper, glass, plastic, cans and non-clinical waste.

Gill Mulroe, Yorwaste’s key account manager, said: “We have been working with York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for a number of years now and are delighted to be offered this extension.

“With over 30,000 bin collections a year covering a wide area, we work in partnership with the trust to look at innovative recycling solutions, whilst at the same time offering best value for money.

“This contract also increases the sustainability for the trust with the opening of the Allerton Park Waste Recovery Park during the term of this contract.

“We are a local service provider and this contract helps Yorwaste to continue with its commitment to offer long-term employment to people within North Yorkshire region,” she said..

“This offered added value to the trust, alongside the £11 million of grants we have allocated, through our environmental body, Yorventure, to community projects in North Yorkshire.”

Hugh Stelmach, the trust’s waste manager, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for the trust to continue working with a local partner such as Yorwaste.

“Together we can further reduce the impact of the trust’s waste activities by maximising the additional opportunities the new Allerton Park Waste Recovery facility will provide in terms of recycling and waste solutions.

“As a trust, we are committed to taking sustainable approaches not only to our own operations but also to safeguarding the environment and the contract extension provides us with an excellent opportunity to help us to do just that.”