In the Spotlight on Global Recycling Day: James Bromley

18 March 2026

On Global Recycling Day, we are delighted to shine the spotlight on James Randall-Bromley, Head of Waste Compliance and Recycling at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. James joined the Health Board in 2008 as a kitchen porter. Today, he leads a team of 38 and oversees the disposal of 4,000 tonnes of waste annually. 

“I was 18 when I started,” he said. “I remember aiming to become a supervisor by the age of 30, and since then I’ve taken every opportunity. “I always say to those I manage: ‘Don’t think that this is just a job. If you have the right mindset, and you work hard and recognise the opportunities, you can build a career within the health board.’”

Over the years, James has worked across a range of Facilities Management roles, including Catering, Housekeeping and a period within Capital Estates & Facilities Service Improvement. He became Head of Waste Compliance and Recycling in January 2025, bringing with him a passion for improvement.  

“Sustainability is becoming more important all the time,” he said. “As a health board, we generate 4,000 tonnes of waste every year. We have a responsibility to manage that in an environmentally responsible way. Last year, 510 tonnes of waste were successfully recycled, recovering valuable materials. A further 428 tonnes were sent to landfill, while most of the remaining waste was processed through waste‑to‑energy systems, converting non‑recyclable materials into electricity and heat.”

'I tend to throw myself into things'

Waste management in a hospital setting is complex, but James has fully embraced the challenge. “I tend to throw myself into things,’ he said. ‘I quickly became fascinated by waste and found myself wanting to understand every aspect of it.” 

He explains: “There are 28 different waste streams generated across our hospitals, ranging from infectious, radioactive and anatomical waste to everyday items like crisp packets and paper. Each waste stream comes with its own specific requirements.” 

To ensure regulations are met, an intense programme of internal and external audits takes place. James works with a team of six waste officers who complete monthly compliance audits across all clinical areas, assessing waste management practices at ward level. It covers not only the larger acute settings of University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough, but also St David’s, Rookwood, Cardiff Royal Infirmary and the wider network of community health centres. 

“We also have a team of 28 dedicated waste operatives across the two acute hospitals who are responsible for collecting the waste from the clinical areas and transporting it back to the main waste compound and then preparing it correctly for collection from our contractors. They work miracles some days.” 

James is proud of the progress his team has made over the past year, including improving clinical waste processes. We’ve worked hard to implement the offensive hygiene waste stream, offering a more sustainable approach to clinical waste disposal. We are currently the leading health board in Wales in adopting this.” 

New Workplace Recycling Legislation

James and his team have also been getting ready for the introduction of new workplace recycling legislation that comes into effect for Welsh hospitals in April. The new rules require materials such as paper and card, glass, metal, plastic and cartons, and food waste to be separated, or the prospect of significant fines. 

“Over the last couple of months, we’ve made huge progress. University Hospital Llandough and all community sites have already completed the transition, and last month, separate recycling exceeded mixed recycling for the first time at the University Hospital of Wales. It shows we’re on the right track, and we have a plan in place to be fully compliant by the April 6th deadline.” 

He understands waste isn’t everyone’s top priority but encourages colleagues to understand its wider impact. “There are many high‑pressure and important roles across the health board, and rightly, waste isn’t the first thing on people’s minds. But what’s often overlooked is the environmental and financial cost of waste that’s disposed of incorrectly. That piece of rubbish someone throws away may be small in the grand scale of things, but when you multiply that across the entire Health Board, the impact, both financial and environmental, is enormous.”  

“If waste is managed efficiently and disposed of correctly, it improves safety for both patients and staff and reduces the risk of infection. It’s not just about the impact it has on our patients today, it’s about protecting the health of our population in the future.” 

People are at the centre of everything we do. Those who work at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board make a difference to people’s lives every single day. 

Each month, the In The Spotlight campaign shines a light on the different people who make up Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, from those who support behind the scenes, to those who have passions that led them to work in their role. 

As an organisation with over 17,000 colleagues, the campaign will highlight the variety of roles, teams and individuals across the health board. Working in the NHS can be life-changing, both for colleagues and for the patients they help.