CiLifecycle
Small change, big difference
Safely Disposing WOW Trolleys
How Barts Health NHS Trust and CiLifecycle tackled harzardous battery waste with confidence.
Workstation on Wheels (WOW) trolleys are typically used in the healthcare sector, designed to hold and power medical devices or computers used in clinical or operational settings. Their primary function is to provide mobility for essential medical and computing equipment, facilitating efficient healthcare delivery.
It is important to distinguish WOW trolleys from Computer on Wheels (COW) trolleys. While COW trolleys are generally smaller and designed for transporting computers in various industries, WOW trolleys are built for more complex, multi-functional use in healthcare environments. These trolleys are manufactured with one of two battery types:
Lithium Iron Magnesium Phosphate (LiFePO4) Batteries
Sealed Lead-Acid (SLA) Batteries
The Challenge
A LiFePO₄ battery is a type of lithium-ion rechargeable battery that uses lithium iron phosphate as the cathode material. They are valued for their stability and long service life but still contain components that require specialist handling to prevent environmental harm and ensure safe recycling. Proper disposal recovers valuable materials, avoids landfill contamination, and keeps the process compliant with environmental and safety regulations.
Specialist Recycling
LiFePO4 batteries must be processed by accredited battery recyclers with the expertise to manage hazardous waste safely.
Secure Transport
Each trolley must be individually loaded and secured to prevent collisions, which could trigger battery reactions and potential fire hazards.
Regulatory Compliance
Transportation is subject to strict regulations, including limits on the number of units per vehicle.
DG-certified drivers and fire-resistant containers are required for higher volumes.
Hazard classification includes List of Wastes (EWC code): 16 02 13* and Dangerous Goods Code UN3481 (Lithium batteries contained in equipment).
Hazard Classification of Waste:
• HP5: Specific Target Organ Toxicity
• HP6: Acute Toxicity
• HP7: Carcinogenicity
• HP10: Toxic for Reproduction
• HP14: Ecotoxicity
• POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants): Long-lasting environmental contaminants found in some electronic components.
The Solution
Partnering with CiLifecycle and Veolia, the hospital implemented a tailored WOW trolley disposal service with DG-certifi ed drivers, secure logistics, and advanced recycling methods to ensure safety, compliance, and sustainability. This service includes:
Specialist Handling & Logistics
- Secure, compliant collection from healthcare facilities.
- Use of Dangerous Goods (DG) certified drivers and specialist transport teams.
Advanced Recycling & Sustainability
- High-efficiency recycling methods to recover valuable materials.
- Safe and ethical disposal of hazardous components to protect human health and the environment.
The Results
CiLifecycle successfully collected and recycled 311 trolleys across five NHS sites, recovering valuable materials, reducing environmental impact, and delivering seamless, compliant disposal with full documentation and professional support.
The environmental benefits of this project are highlighted in the table below:
By ensuring the correct recycling of hazardous components, Centerprise and Veolia have significantly reduced environmental impact, maximised material recovery, and improved sustainability when disposal of WOW trollies is needed.
Barts Health, NHS Trust
At Bart Hospital as with NHS trusts, there is a universal challenge for an ethical disposal of WOW trollies due to the nature of the hazardous batteries contained within. Finding a compliant Partner, who fully understood the legal standpoint of Logistics, compliance and ethical solution was challenging. However, with our partnership with Centerprise international and their experience within the industry, we were able to find an ethical and compliant solution for over 400 of the units and we will continue to use this tailored solution to continue and resolve the entire expired estate.
Our experience of dealing with Centerprise throughout the project was seamless and efficient, which gave us the assurance that a professional team was on hand and all relevant documentation was delivered in a timely and concise manner.
Let’s close the loop
With secure disposal, ethical reuse and full compliance, CiLifecycle helps you retire IT with purpose and turn end-of-life assets into long-term value.
