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Vet practice group launches innovative recycling scheme
Elaine Biggs and Beth Kirwan from Pennard Vets’ Sevenoaks practice.

Pennard Vets aims to prevent uncontaminated clinical clothing and equipment ending up in landfill.

Kent-based veterinary group Pennard Vets has launched an innovative scheme to ensure surgical aprons, masks and plastic syringes are recycled rather than sent to landfill or incinerated.

The scheme, which also recycles blister packs and needles, is being trialled at the Group’s Tonbridge and Sevenoaks practices, with plans to roll it out across the entire Group in the future. 

It forms part of a series of initiatives being implemented by the Pennard Vets to reduce the Company's carbon footprint, including installing energy-efficient LED lighting with motion sensors and replacing plastic bags with paper or tote bags. 

The employee-owned Group has also joined forces with Hills Pet Nutrition to recycle the brand’s foil pet food pouches through the national TerraCycle programme. It means that cat and dog clients of the Group’s Sevenoaks, Tonbridge and Maidstone surgeries can now take their empty packaging into their practice for recycling.

Beth Kirwan, head veterinary nurse at Pennard Vets’ Sevenoaks practice, said: “Historically the veterinary industry has produced more than its fair share of waste, and at Pennard Vets we’re working hard to reduce our impact on the environment. This has been accelerated by us becoming employee-owned, which means our entire team are now even more empowered to put forward ideas and drive change through the business. 

“We already have weekly collections of cardboard, tins, drip bags and tubing, but we wanted to do more to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill or being incinerated."

She added: “Pet food packaging uses special materials, to keep food fresh for extended periods and prevent leaks, which means it can’t be recycled in domestic bins. Previously we were taking Hill’s food pouches to specialist recycling points, but introducing our own collection bins is dramatically increasing the amount of waste we can recycle, and it’s already proving popular with local pet owners. 

“We’re also excited to now be in a position to start recycling clinical clothing and equipment, that don’t contain blood, medicines or biological contaminants, which gives us a big opportunity to significantly reduce our environmental impact further. Hopefully the industry will see that changes likes these at individual practices will all combine to make a big difference.”  

Image (C) Pennard Vets.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.