Medical Waste Reduction

1
Medical Waste Reduction

• Kate Konkova
• PUBH-6165-2

2
Introduction

• Source Reduction
• Proper Segregation
• Recycling
• Reusing

3
Source Reduction

• Source reduction, what is it?
• Waste increase
• Lack of waste tracking in the hospitals
• 1. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
  (2009). Reduce Reuse. www.epa.gov
• Chen, I. (05 July 2010). In the world of
  throwaways, making a dent in medical waste. The
  New York Times. www.nytimes.com

4
Source Reduction

• Reducing the amount of toxic medical waste
• Xylene Alternatives (Histosolve, Clear-Rite3)
• Product substitution with recycled content
• Use of alternate technologies
• Sustainable Hospitals Project. (2003). Pilot
  study of alternatives to the use of xylene in a
  hospital histology laboratory. www.sustainablehosp
  itals.org

5
Proper Segregation

• Non-hazardous waste mixed with hazardous waste
  constitutes hazardous waste.
• Disposing medical waste 480 per ton
• Disposing non-medical (municipal) waste 24 per
  ton
• Earth911. (2010). Tips for recycling medical
  waste. www.earth911.com

6
Recycle

• Recycling turns materials that would otherwise
  become waste into valuable resources.
• Benefits of Recycling
• Protects U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases
  U.S. competitiveness
• Reduces the need for landfilling and incineration
• Prevents pollution
• Saves energy
• Decreases emissions of greenhouse gases
• Conserves natural resources
• Helps sustain the environment for future
  generations
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2010).
  Recycling. www.epa.gov

7
Recycle

• Recycle materials in the hospitals
• Paper
• Corrugated Boxes
• Batteries
• Ink Cartridges
• Aluminum Cans
• Steel cans
• Electronic Equipment
• Pallets
• Textiles
• Mercury
• Fluorescent Lamps

8
Recycle - Paper

• The Health Insurance Portability and
  Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and
  Security Rules 
• Shred
• Use double-sided paper

9
Recycle - Electronics

• Computers
• Monitors
• TVs
• Cell phones
• Fax Machines

10
Reuse

• Donating
• Reprocessing
• Reusable equipment and supplies

11
Reuse - Donating

• Unused hospital beds
• Unused medical equipment
• Pharmaceuticals
• Extra hospital supplies

12
Reuse - Reprocessing

• The American Society for Healthcare Central
  Service Professionals (ASHCSP) says it includes
  all operations performed to render a used
  reusable or single-use device patient-ready or to
  allow an unused product that has been opened to
  be made patient-ready.
• In-house program
• Third-party reprocessor.
• An estimated 1,800 hospitals diverted 2,650 tons
  of garbage from landfills in 2009.
• Selvey, D. (2001). Medical Device Reprocessing.
  Infection Control Today. www.infectioncontroltoday
  .com

13
Reuse Equipment / Supplies

• Transport plastic bags
• Transport containers
• Linen
• Dishware

14
Conclusion

• Source Reduction
• Proper Segregation
• Recycle
• Reuse

15
References

• Chen, I. (05 July 2010). In the world of
  throwaways, making a dent in medical waste. The
  New York Times. www.nytimes.com
• Earth911. (2010). Tips for recycling medical
  waste. www.earth911.com
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2009).
  Reduce Reuse. www.epa.gov
• Selvey, D. (2001). Medical Device Reprocessing.
  Infection Control Today. www.infectioncontroltoday
  .com
• Sustainable Hospitals Project. (2003). Pilot
  study of alternatives to the use of xylene in a
  hospital histology laboratory. www.sustainablehosp
  itals.org