Recycling is great but refusing, rethinking, reducing and reusing are better.
Single use items have high financial, environmental and social cost than reusables. Expert consensus guidelines now recommend preference for reusable over single use items.
See below some of our ideas for reducing single use items, including some reusable products and the evidence which supports their use.
Some projects which our WA GTN crew are implementing currently on the prevention side of the pyramid are
Reusable IV Tourniquets.
The Daisy Grip tourniquet has been through the WA Health process for device approval. It costs ~30 times that of a disposable tourniquet but can be reused hundreds or thousands of times. It is easily cleaned. How many patients have a blood test or cannula inserted in your hospital? The multiplier effect may be significant. Other reusable tourniquets may also be available.
Stop Before You Glove
Millions of single use gloves are used unnecessarily at Australian health care facilities every year. They are the most common single use plastic item in healthcare and have a significant carbon footprint through they manufacture, transport and disposal. Up to 62% of glove use may be inappropriate, so campaigns have started up around Australia following success in the UK. Some resources are below.
What ideas have you got to reduce wasteful purchasing? Let us know in the comments
7 Day Breathing Circuits
Breathing circuits are a reasonable quantum of plastic and single use circuits are a substantial cost. A 2025 meta-analysis from Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney has reinforced that the use of 7-day breathing circuits is safe and does not increase the risk of bacterial contamination. 7 Day breathing circuits are supported by Australian New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (PG28), UK Association of Anaesthetists and French guidelines.
Linen Gowns and Drapes
Back to the future! Linen drapes and gowns have been demonstrated to have lower cost, lower water consumption and lower carbon emissions. Modern designs can meet the standards required of modern PPE. The easiest ‘gateway’ to this form of reusables is non-sterile linen gowns for PPE in endoscopy, ED, ICU and wards. The next level project is to use sterile gowns and drapes in theatres. Reusable gowns are supported by College of Surgeons, ACORN and infection control bodies.
Reusable Monitoring sensors, cables and cuffs
Did you know disposable SpO2 probes cost around $20-$30 each? This can be a very expensive waste of money for health systems. Reusable SpO2 probes can be easily cleaned with a disinfectant wipe and last thousands of patients. Reusable BP cuffs are superior devices which are easily cleaned with wipes as well. Both these devices have a quick payback.