How Does Hospital Waste Management Help Environment?

Tons of Waste

According to Hospitals for a Healthy Environments, hospitals produce a combined 6,600 tons of waste on average every day. This is partly due to an increase in disposable products. Rather than reusing items, hospitals just throw them away.

Cut Down on Packaging

Hospitals are trying to choose products that come in minimal packaging. Selected nurses and doctors sit on a board that decides what products the hospital should purchase. Choosing products that come in minimal packaging will cut down on waste. Less waste helps the environment because less trash is thrown into a landfill. It also takes less energy and resources to package the product.

Recycle

Hospitals are trying to recycle their waste rather than disposing of it in a landfill. According to Hospitals for a Healthy Environment, landfills are the second largest source of greenhouse gases behind fossil fuels.

Reuse Products

Many products used in hospitals are labeled "single use," but this does not necessarily mean the product can not be sterilized and used again. Hospitals study whether a product can be sufficiently cleaned and safely used on another patient. Reusing products cuts back on waste sent to landfills and resources needed to make more products.

Resources

• Going Green--RNs Tackle Hospital Waste