Reducing Hospital Waste: Strategies For A Greener Healthcare System

Hospitals generate a significant amount of waste, which has adverse effects on the environment and contributes to rising healthcare costs. High-income countries produce up to 0.5 kg of hazardous waste per hospital bed daily, while the figure is 0.2 kg in low-income countries. This waste contains harmful microorganisms that can infect patients, staff, and the general public. Additionally, the economic costs of medical waste are staggering, accounting for approximately 25% of total US healthcare spending. Therefore, hospitals must prioritize waste reduction to minimize their environmental impact and improve operational efficiency. Strategies to achieve this include embracing the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling; implementing sustainable procurement practices; optimizing supply chain management; promoting waste segregation; and transitioning from disposables to reusables. By adopting these measures, hospitals can enhance their sustainability, reduce costs, and positively impact the health and well-being of their patients and the community.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

Hospitals generate an estimated average of 1.5 billion kg of solid waste annually, relying on the $40.3 billion disposable medical supply industry. The economic costs associated with medical waste are staggering, ranging from $760 billion to $935 billion, which accounts for approximately 25% of total US healthcare spending. Therefore, hospitals can benefit from reducing, reusing, and recycling waste.

Reduce

To reduce waste, hospitals can start by controlling the inflow of materials. This involves understanding the needs of each department and adjusting ordering practices to eliminate consequent waste. For example, hospitals can purchase cleaning materials and equipment in specific quantities across departments to avoid overbuying. Hospitals can also switch to reusable items instead of disposable ones, such as washable cups, plates, glasses, pitchers, utensils, linens, diapers, and surgical/nursing gowns.

Reuse

Some hospitals have started using reusables in patient rooms, such as bedpans and water pitchers, instead of disposable options. Hospitals can also reuse certain medical equipment after sterilization. For example, plastic retractors used to hold surgical cuts open can be sterilized and reused until they are worn out, reducing the number of single-use plastics.

Recycle

Hospitals can implement waste management practices to recycle common items, including plastic, paper, and cardboard. For example, blister packs can be recycled through Terracycle or dropped off at Superdrug pharmacies for small personal amounts. Additionally, hospitals can recycle regulated medical waste, solid waste, and hazardous waste to reduce their environmental impact and meet national and international standards.

Use washable items

Hospitals generate a significant amount of waste, and waste reduction strategies are crucial to enhance sustainability, reduce costs, and improve the hospital's brand and reputation. One effective strategy to reduce waste in hospitals is to "use washable items" instead of disposable ones. This simple approach can significantly reduce waste outflow and offer both environmental and economic benefits.

In the context of hospitals, "using washable items" can be applied in various areas, including patient rooms, surgical settings, food services, and administrative tasks. Here are some specific ways in which hospitals can implement the use of washable items:

Patient Rooms and Nursing

In patient rooms, hospitals can provide washable linens, bed pads, and gowns instead of disposable alternatives. This includes items such as sheets, pillowcases, blankets, and patient gowns. Additionally, washable bedpans and water pitchers can be utilized instead of disposable ones. Personal care items, such as tissues, baby wipes, and diapers, can also be evaluated for potential washable or reusable options. It is important to ensure compliance with sanitary regulations and infection control guidelines when using washable items in patient care.

Surgical Settings and Clinical Practices

In surgical settings, washable surgical gowns and nursing gowns can be utilized instead of paper or disposable options. This can significantly reduce waste, especially if surgical packs are frequently used. Additionally, hospitals can explore the use of washable linens, diapers, and other clinical items that are typically single-use. Again, proper sanitation and infection control protocols must be strictly adhered to when reusing items in clinical settings.

Food Services and Cafeterias

Hospitals can use washable cups, plates, glasses, and utensils in their cafeterias and food services instead of disposable paper or plastic alternatives. This simple switch can substantially reduce waste and provide cost savings. Additionally, hospitals can encourage patients and staff to use washable items, such as mugs or water bottles, for their personal use, further reducing the reliance on disposable cups.

Administrative Tasks and General Practices

Administratively, hospitals can encourage the use of washable items in their daily operations. This includes providing staff with washable mugs or cups for beverages instead of disposable paper or plastic cups. Hospitals can also promote the use of hand towels and air dryers in bathrooms instead of paper towels. Additionally, administrative staff can be encouraged to use email and digital messaging instead of paper correspondence, further reducing paper waste.

By implementing these strategies and embracing washable items, hospitals can make significant strides in waste reduction, enhancing their environmental sustainability and reducing operational costs associated with waste management.

Audit and adjust ordering practices

Hospitals can audit and adjust their ordering practices to reduce waste in several ways. Firstly, conducting waste audits is crucial for understanding the quantity and type of waste generated, as well as identifying areas for improvement in waste management practices. These audits can be conducted at the department level, providing specialised information for greater analysis and waste reduction strategies tailored to each department's needs. For example, an audit of surgical packs might reveal items that are rarely used and can be excluded from future orders.

To streamline ordering practices and reduce waste, hospitals can consolidate supply procurement activities under a central supply chain team. This ensures visibility and control over multiple orders, reducing the likelihood of duplicate shipments from manufacturers and minimising transportation emissions, container usage, and packaging waste.

Additionally, hospitals should aim to control material inflow by understanding their purchasing patterns, usage, and disposal rates. This knowledge enables them to adjust ordering practices and eliminate consequent waste. For instance, hospitals can standardise the quantities of cleaning materials and equipment purchased across departments to prevent overbuying.

Furthermore, hospitals can implement strategies to reduce, reuse, and recycle. This includes using washable utensils, cups, and linens instead of disposable options, encouraging digital correspondence to reduce paper waste, and providing recycling bins in administrative areas.

Waste audits can also serve as a tool for regulatory policy development, waste diversion, and financial savings. By analysing waste generation across procedures, departments, and hospitals, hospitals can identify areas of high waste production and implement targeted interventions. Sharing waste audit data transparently can inform accrediting bodies and incentivise sustainable practices.

Overall, by conducting waste audits, centralising supply procurement, understanding and adjusting ordering practices, and embracing reduction, reuse, and recycling principles, hospitals can significantly reduce waste and improve their environmental sustainability.

Choose sustainable suppliers

Hospitals produce about 6 million tons of plastic waste per year in the United States alone, with about 25% of hospital waste consisting of plastic. This problem stems from the reliance on single-use plastics for medical supplies such as IV bags, syringes, gloves, and medicinal containers. These plastic objects can take hundreds of years to decompose, adversely affecting the health of vulnerable communities.

To reduce plastic waste, hospitals can introduce comprehensive plastic-free policies. For example, some facilities have adopted plastic-free cafeterias, replacing plastic cutlery and containers with reusable or compostable alternatives. Hospitals can also partner with industry partners to implement the most effective and efficient plastic-free solutions.

When it comes to choosing sustainable suppliers, hospitals should consider the following:

• Evaluate suppliers based on their sustainability practices: Select suppliers that engage in sustainable practices, such as low-energy use, shortened supply chains, and minimal product packaging.
• Direct buying towards sustainable suppliers: Hospitals can prioritize purchasing from suppliers that offer sustainable and environmentally-friendly products.
• Consolidate supply procurement activities: By centralizing supply procurement under the hospital's supply chain team, hospitals can reduce waste. This allows the supply chain team to have visibility and control over procurement, working with internal requisitioners and suppliers to minimize multiple shipments and reduce waste from packaging and transportation.
• Embed sustainability in operational strategies: Hospitals should work with critical stakeholders, such as policymakers and supply industries, to embed institutional sustainability goals in their operational strategies. This includes considering the long-term waste generation of medical equipment and devices.
• Collaborate across industries: Hospitals can encourage strong collaborations across the medical, plastic, and waste industries to promote circular supply chain implementation and maintenance.
• Get expert advice: Hospitals can benefit from the expertise of organizations like Daniels Health, which offers over 30 years of experience in advising hospitals on waste reduction and sustainable practices.

By choosing sustainable suppliers and implementing plastic-free policies, hospitals can significantly reduce their environmental impact and promote a greener future.

Switch to digital inventory management

Hospitals can benefit significantly from switching to digital inventory management systems. This transition from manual, disjointed supply management processes can help supply chain leaders gain better control over their inventory and reduce waste.

Firstly, digital inventory management systems can provide valuable insights into procurement and consumption patterns. By leveraging data and analytics, hospitals can identify opportunities to optimise their supply chain and reduce waste. This includes right-sizing inventory levels, reducing overstocking, and minimising the financial impact of wasted supplies.

Secondly, digital solutions can help hospitals improve their inventory visibility and control. With increased visibility, hospitals can consolidate their supply procurement activities, reducing the number of shipments received and the associated emissions and packaging waste. Additionally, digital systems can help hospitals better organise their supplies, ensuring that products with upcoming expiration dates are used first and reducing waste caused by expired items.

Furthermore, digital inventory management systems can enhance collaboration and communication between different stakeholders. For example, supply chain professionals and clinicians can work together to evaluate the cost, quality, and outcomes associated with specific items used in care delivery. This collaboration can lead to more informed decision-making and waste reduction.

Lastly, digital solutions can provide forecasting capabilities, helping hospitals predict future demand and adjust their ordering patterns accordingly. This can prevent situations where there is either a shortage or excess of products, minimising waste and ensuring efficient use of resources.

By switching to digital inventory management, hospitals can improve their supply chain management, optimise their inventory levels, and significantly reduce waste, contributing to both financial savings and environmental sustainability.

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