New recycling points at hospitals for walking aids
Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has opened two new recycling bins across its sites for members of the public to drop off walking aids that they no longer use.
The bins have been funded by the Trust’s therapy services team after they identified that a large number of walking aids were not being returned when patients no longer needed them.
The recycling bins are accessible to the public and are located in the entrances of Airedale Hospital and Canalside Community Health Centre, which is good news for people across the Yorkshire region who travel to use services.
Where are the new recycling points?
Airedale General Hospital
Main entrance (Zone C)
Skipton Road,
Steeton,
Keighley
BD20 6TD
Canalside Community Health Centre
2 Kingsway,
Bingley
BD16 4RP
We are very excited to get this scheme off the ground and be able to offer two accessible drop-off points for people to come and recycle their unused walking aids.
Once the walking aids have been dropped off, they are inspected, cleaned and put back into circulation if they are found to be safe and fit for purpose. If they do not meet health and safety requirements, they are condemned and the raw materials are recycled.
If the walking aids are safe but not required by the Trust’s services, the Therapy team works with charities to re-distribute these to people who need them overseas.
We’re delighted to be able to help the Trust meet its Green Plan targets by reducing waste and we will be exploring the option of expanding the number of drop-off points in the future.
What you can recycle
What is accepted:
- Metal adjustable crutches
- Metal adjustable walking stick
- Metal adjustable quad sticks
- Metal Zimmer frames
- Standard walking frames
- Wheeled walking frames
- Four-wheeled outdoor walkers
- Gutter frames
What is not accepted:
- Wooden walking sticks
- Foldable walking sticks
- Bespoke or ornamental handles
- Foldable three-wheeled walkers
- Walking aids that are broken or bent
- Walking aids with cracked or stained handles/parts
Useful information
Recycle Now
Find your nearest walking aid recycling point on the Recycle Now website.
Medequip
Medequip is the leading provider of community equipment services for North Yorkshire Council. Medequip have recycling bins located at the North Yorkshire household waste recycling centres where medical equipment can be accepted, free of charge.
For more information, visit The North Yorkshire Council website.
You can also call Medequip for a free collection on 01423 226 240
Or email north.yorks@medequip-uk.com.
