Maria Middelares participates in recycling project 'Select4Care'

VIL (Flanders, Innovation and Logistics) and Denuo (Belgian Federation of the Waste and Recycling Sector) are teaming up with 20 organisations to find a solution to the recycling issue within the medical sector. The new project, Select4Care, aims to develop a more circular strategy for single-use plastic materials in hospitals.

The challenge of the circular economy in the medical sector

The reuse of medical instruments and materials is currently not always possible. The design for these resources did not account for a second life, sterilisation or reuse. Therefore, much of it ends up in the waste to be incinerated. Implementing circular economy principles in the medical world is a complex task.

Focus on 'design for recycling'

VIL and Denuo believe there are opportunities for high-value reuse of these materials. Select4Care focuses on selective collection, sorting, dismantling and high-quality recycling. The project will investigate how processes can be optimised to enable their reuse. This includes not only logistics optimisation, but also co-developing new materials.

Broad collaboration for sustainable progress

The initiative is supported by twenty organisations, including hospitals, medical material manufacturers, custom fabrication companies, day-care centres and waste and recycling firms.

‘As an organisation, we are very aware of the need for a more circular economy. As partner hospitals in this project, we provide inspiration and practical insights, as well as an opportunity to test the feasibility of ideas in practice.’

Isabel Verniers, staff assistant at Maria Middelares

Project participants: ACG, Monica General Hospital, Rivierenland General Hospital, Borealis, Dialex Biomedica, Ziekenhuis aan de Stroom (GZA & ZNA), Kunnig, MIVAS, Oesterbank, OTB, Renewi, SABIC, SGS Ewacs, Antwerp University Hospital, Brussels University Hospital, Ghent University Hospital, Leuven University Hospital, Maria Middelares General Hospital, Vanheede Environmental Group, Veolia and Maria Middelares Non-profit Organisation.

Watch the report in the VRT NWS news of 26 April 2024, 7pm via the button below.