Mental health workers are helping to save the environment by doubling the amount of recycling they do each month – to two and half tonnes.

Whereas before the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust’s staff disposed of five tonnes of general waste at units around Lincolnshire, more recycling bins and a campaign to raise awareness of green issues has encouraged them to halve their rubbish.

The Trust has formed the ‘Green Group’ to help with influencing people, adding more recycling facilities and educating the staff about exactly why and how they can recycle.

However, there are still other advantages for The Trust other than increasing recycling and saving the environment.

Martin Stott, chairman of the Green Group and Director of Lincolnshire NHS Shared Services, which manages waste on behalf of the Trust, says, “The Trust gets charged less for waste that can be recycled than for general waste. We are now saving about £4,000 a month. These savings can now be spent on patient care.”

This increase in savings is a large benefit for the Trust as they can now spend the £4,000 each month on something more worthwhile, such as patient care.