The problem of overcrowded landfills in Hong Kong continues and there is no solution in the foreseeable future.
In order to shoulder their social responsibilities, many enterprises have begun to study "recycling" and "recycling", hoping to reduce waste at the source.
Roche Diagnostics specializes in the research and development of medical testing technology, which involves many large-scale instruments. Once abandoned in the landfill, the bearing capacity of the land will be increased. Commitment to sustainable development.
Roche Diagnostics is one of the largest medical diagnostic companies in the world. At present, there are more than 100,000 Roche Diagnostics testing platforms in the world, which is the platform with the highest market share. There are as many as 27 billion tests performed around the world every year. Diagnosis matters.
Luo Zixian, general manager of Roche Diagnostics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., said that the company attaches great importance to social responsibility, and has invested a lot of manpower and material resources in recent years to study how to recycle "retired" instruments.
Recycling of components into useful materials
According to the Hong Kong Solid Waste Monitoring Report, the amount of solid waste disposed of in the landfill area in Hong Kong is as high as 15,000 tonnes every day, an astonishing figure.
Luo Zixian, general manager of Roche Diagnostics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd., pointed out that the company attaches great importance to social responsibility, and in recent years has begun to study how to deal with "retired" large-scale equipment. "As a leading global medical company, we not only take care of the health of patients, but also To take care of our planet, we believe that sustainable development is not just a slogan, but our mission, our culture. Therefore, we spare no expense and hope that by recycling medical equipment, we can turn waste into treasure and contribute to the planet.”
Roche Diagnostics employs a qualified contractor to disassemble the instrument to ensure that every step is in compliance.
Five recycling procedures to ensure safety
Roche Diagnostics' recall procedure consists of five steps.
The first is surface disinfection. When the staff arrives at the hospital or laboratory, they will thoroughly disinfect the surface of the instrument as soon as possible to ensure that the transport workers are safe and secure when handling the instrument.
The second step is to carry out deep oxidation and thorough disinfection of the entire equipment. Since recycling workers need to handle these instruments closely, thorough disinfection can protect them from infection, and the staff who follow up the next steps can also rest assured.
Once the instrument has been successfully recycled, the third step is to disassemble the instrument and then sort the components by personnel from a licensed recycling company approved by the EPD.
In the fourth step, some components that require special treatment, such as refrigeration systems and batteries, will be transported to the chemical waste treatment center designated by the EPA for further treatment. Otherwise, the gases in them, such as chlorofluorocarbons, will enter and destroys the atmosphere, so handle with care.
"We are very careful and prudent in the entire recycling process, and we will ensure the safety of all workers and recycling personnel. The process will also be carried out by professional and licensed personnel, so as to make good use of every recyclable resource and reduce the load on the earth." Roche Luo Zixian, general manager of Diagnostics (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd. explained.
When recycling diagnostic instruments, deep oxidation and thorough disinfection are extremely important and must not be sloppy.
Reduce consumption and continue to develop
The last step is to carefully classify the disassembled components, such as glue, circuit board, wire, steel, aluminum and copper, etc.
After several steps, the entire discarded instrument becomes some reusable material.
"During the whole process, Roche Diagnostics invested additional resources and effort, and recycling and remanufacturing would not bring us any benefit, but we still insisted, because what we are doing is not the immediate economic benefit, but the long-term benefit of the earth and us. The rewards of the next generation. As a large multinational company, rooted in Hong Kong, we hope to do our best to protect this place. While striving for medical progress and serving patients, we cannot ignore the waste problem that this place is facing. Reduce consumption and damage to the earth, so that sustainable development and progress can be achieved.”
(Information and photos provided by customers)