Durham partnership wins award for pioneering recycling service
A PARTNERSHIP that launched a pioneering recycling service in County Durham has won a prestigious gong at the National Recycling Awards 2025.
Durham County Council, and its partners Medequip and HW Martin Waste, won the Partnership Excellence: Public/Private Sector Award after launching the region’s first medical equipment recycling service.
Through convenient drop-off points at the local authority’s Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) across the county, the initiative addresses the significant financial losses faced by local NHS and social care services due to unreturned equipment.
By recovering, safety testing, sterilising and reintegrating items into Medequip’s inventory, the service promotes sustainability and resource efficiency. In its first three months, 360 items were recovered, saving the NHS £7,380, an average of £20.50 per item.
Since launch, the initiative has collected more than 4,300 items, delivering estimated savings of nearly £90,000.
Meanwhile, during the 2024/25 period, nearly eight tonnes of medical equipment were diverted from disposal.
Initially, due to funding limitations, Medequip was unable to provide receptacles at all the council’s HWRCs, risking a backlog of equipment. However, HW Martins Waste Ltd resolved this by supplying 1100-litre receptacles, enabling a full-service rollout across all 12 permanent sites.
James Gilchrist, Durham County Council’s head of environment, said: “We are over the moon and proud to be the recipient of this prestigious award, and would like to thank our partners for their invaluable help in making this service a reality.
“Not only does this fantastic initiative save on unnecessary waste, but it also provides thousands of pounds worth of savings to the NHS. Plus, strong public support has demonstrated a demand for this service, and the positive impact it has had in bringing essential medical items to more residents.”
The council was also the recent recipient of the Best Reuse Initiative Award at the North East Recycling Forum awards 2025.
The local authority was praised for a truly innovative partnership that delivered environmental and financial savings for the NHS.
