As part of Recycle Week, Torbay residents are being encouraged to return any NRS Healthcare labelled equipment that is no longer needed.

NRS Healthcare, which supports people to live full, active and independent lives for as long as possible, loans more than 22,000 items of equipment each year on behalf of the council or NHS, to support people in the community.

Returning this vital equipment when it is no longer required, is not only good for the environment, but also helps save public money. NRS Healthcare recycles all the equipment used, and once rigorous decontamination and safety checks have been carried out, it is then reused for people in the community. Equipment can be ready for redistribution in just three days.

Recycle Week (17th-23rd October) takes place annually, with this year’s focus ‘Let’s Get Real’ aiming to challenge perceptions and myths around recycling and contamination to improve recycling behaviours.

Paul Haley, who is NRS Healthcare’s Service Manager for Torbay, said:

“There is an urgent need for equipment in the local community to free up hospital beds and allow people to live more independent lives. If NRS Healthcare equipment can be returned when no longer required, we can quickly get it to those in need.”

Susan Bywaters is the Equipment Lead for Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. She said:

“In 2020, the NHS became the first health service in the world to commit to a goal of net zero carbon emissions. It is an ambitious and challenging target, but one that can be helped by all of us taking small actions, and national Recycle Week is one of them. Alongside this, the NHS is under immense pressure to care for and support an increasing number of patients in the community with complex needs. The Community Equipment Service in Torbay, run by NRS Healthcare, is integral to enabling patients to be cared for in their own home. If you, or your relatives have equipment that is no longer required, we would be grateful if you could please return the equipment so that others may benefit.”

Returning NRS Healthcare labelled equipment is easy. If you, a friend, relative, or carer has equipment supplied by the Council, via NRS Healthcare, you can arrange a free collection by calling 0300 100 0047 weekdays from 9am-5pm or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Alternatively, you can return it directly yourself during opening hours to NRS Healthcare at Unit 1, Torbay Business Park, Woodview Road, Paignton, TQ4 7HP.