In late 2019 we interviewed one of clients, Anne Jackson about her venture MediDivert, as part of our ‘Life Stories’ series. With medical waste disposal being one of the biggest challenges facing our environment, Anne set up the organisation to procure unused medical goods destined for landfill and redeploy them to wildlife organisations, sanctuaries, carers and vets, that treat wildlife free of charge.
3 years on, post lockdowns, bush fires, floods…we wondered how MediDivert was getting on.
MediDivert is 2021 Eco Award (Sustainable Resources Award) Winner
Commenced in May 2019 in partnership with Sydney Wildlife Rescue, over three tonnes of goods have been saved from landfill and over 1000 litres of fluids saved from the drain.
During the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires, goods were packed as ‘Burn Boxes for Vets’ and sent to areas of need up and down the country, including Kangaroo Island. Much needed supplies were also provided during the recent 2022 floods.
Deliveries are often taken by wildlife members or in collaboration with other organisations, such as Animal Rescue Cooperative (ARC), and some goods were even sent to outreach veterinary clinics at various locations throughout Fiji.
Healthcare providers need new innovative ways to lighten their environmental footprint and MediDivert’s hope for the future is to see staff-driven sustainability initiatives in local hospitals. Why not adopt a local wildlife group or sanctuary and set up a partnership? This way the hospital would have a place to send their expired stock or unused goods, streamlining deliveries and transportation, thereby cutting out ‘the middle man’ and minimizing fuel consumption.
There is enormous scope for this style of partnership to be rolled out across Australia with animal welfare organisations ‘adopting’ their local hospital.
