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Health Care Industry Waste Reduction and Recycling

The Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) works to ensure that waste materials are managed, reduced, reused, recycled, and disposed of properly in order to protect the public health and the environment. CalRecycle has many programs to help California businesses, communities, schools, cities, and counties reduce the amount of waste they generate through strategies targeting either specific material types or a particular business, school, or government sector. More information about these programs can be found on the CaRecycle website.

CalRecycle's Health Care Waste Reduction and Recycling Team is ready to assist the health care community. The team explores ways to reduce the amount of waste generated at a facility, and suggests customized source reduction and recycling efforts. Its goal is to help establish a statewide infrastructure of sustainable waste reduction, reuse, and recycling programs for the health care industry.

Key Players

One of the main components to starting or expanding waste reduction and recycling programs is to bring together key players:

• Health care industry workers.
• Local jurisdiction contacts.
• City/County Public Works Department representatives.
• Hauling company representatives.
• Recycling and collection service vendors.
• Supplier representatives (companies that you purchase materials and goods from).

Through these partnerships, each key player contributes to the development or expansion of your sustainable waste management programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

CalERecycle’s Health Care Waste Reduction and Recycling site includes information on the following:

• How do I get started reducing, reusing and recycling my hospital waste?
• What do I do with the various material types generated in the hospital?
• Are there any case studies available?
• Where can I get additional resources?
• Where can I get a sample environmental preferable purchasing policy (Word, 71 KB)?
• Where can I get a sample environmental policy (Word, 36 KB)?
• What should homeowners do with medications/sharps?
• Who do I contact regarding hazardous wastes from industrial chemicals, computer monitors, and other items?