What’s the difference between site-level and group-level procurement, and what should we do if our site wants to make a change?

Site-level procurement means your individual practice, clinic or location can choose and manage its own waste service. Group-level procurement means the contract is managed centrally, often by a head office, operations team or procurement lead across multiple sites.

The main difference is decision-making. A site-level arrangement can make it easier to act quickly when something needs changing, such as container sizes, collection frequency or service support. A group-level arrangement can help create consistency, improve reporting and give the organisation better visibility across all locations. However, it may also mean local teams need to provide evidence before changes can be approved.

If your site wants to make a change but needs to go through the group, don’t bypass the process. Build a clear, practical case for review. Include what isn’t working, how it affects safety, compliance, storage, staff time or cost, and what change you’re asking for. Useful evidence might include missed collections, overfilled containers, unsuitable container sizes, changes in treatment activity or concerns around documentation.

Framing the request as a service improvement, rather than just a supplier preference, helps the group make an informed decision that works for both the site and the wider organisation.