Related Topics

• Sharps
• Medication
• Sharps and Medication Disposal Directory
• Household Hazardous Waste
• Health Care Waste At Home

Health Care Industry Waste Reduction and Recycling

Resources

Awards

• Partner for Change and other Environmental Excellence Awards. Annual awards by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s only membership association devoted to environmentally responsible healthcare.
• Waste Reduction Award Program (WRAP). The California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) annual awards for outstanding waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and buy recycled efforts. Use the search feature to find out which hospitals or health care facilities have won a WRAP award.

Definitions/Glossary

• Waste Prevention Terms and Definitions. CalRecycle’s glossary of terms and definitions regarding waste prevention.

Material Exchange or Donation Programs

• California Materials Exchange (CalMAX). CalRecycle's free, online materials exchange program featuring wanted and available goods and targeting businesses and the commercial sector.
• Home CARES Equipment Recyclers. This nonprofit organization collections durable and reusable health care items and equipment for the Oakland, Marin, Sonoma, and San Francisco area. Additional medical surplus companies can be found listed on to the Alameda County website.
• iReuse. A search function of available and wanted items in greater Bay Area region.
• MedShare. This nonprofit organization bridges the gap between surplus items and equipment from the health care industry and those in need, in California, nationally, and internationally.

Factsheets

• Hospital Blue Wrap. CalRecycle’s factsheet for hospitals that want to implement a waste reduction and recycling program for blue wrap. The information includes a definition of blue wrap, how to reduce the disposal of blue wrap, alternatives to blue wrap, and how to start a blue wrap collection and recycling program.
• Reusable Totes, Blue Wrap Recycling and Composting (PDF, 528 KB). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) Region 9’s factsheet on how hospitals often use reusable totes, recycle their blue wrap, and use worms to compost the organic material generated at their facility in order to reduce waste.
• Top 11 WRAP Questions and Answers, Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP). Frequently asked questions regarding CalRecycle’s WRAP program. WRAP awards acknowledge private and nonprofit businesses and entities for their waste reduction and recycling efforts.

Funding

• Reuse Assistance Grant Program. CalRecycle’s reuse assistance grant program provides funding for local public agencies to promote the reuse of nonhazardous material(s) in California.

Environmental Committee or Team

An environmental committee or team can play a critical role in developing an environmental mission, reachable goals, and a plan of action for reaching those goals at their hospital facility. Here are some ideas that an environmental committee could implement as part of their efforts:

• Sell reusable mugs with no-spill lids and then offer discounts to those using their own beverage mug.
• Fundraisers through food sales, craft sales, fun runs, etc.
• “Green” challenges for staff.
• Encourage staff to share ideas on how to minimize waste.
• Green Meetings. Learn how to minimize waste at meetings, parties, and other gatherings.
• Set up a free “trading post” or reuse area where employees can set out used, yet still useful, items such as binders, folders, mouse pads, paper clips, cassette tapes, plastic containers, etc.

Literature

• Tools and Resources, Practice Greenhealth. Practice Greenhealth has tools and resources for the health care industry on waste reduction and recycling.

Newsletters

• infoCycling. The Fall/Winter 2007 issue of CalRecycle's former newsletter highlights Green Purchasing (page 12) and Blue Wrap (page 21).

Other Resources

• Business Waste Reduction Resources. CalRecycle information on learning ways to reduce your business’ bottom line through waste reduction and procurement efforts.
• Buy Recycled. Learn about the CalRecycle's “buy recycled” programs that promote the State’s policy for buying recycled-content products and how to support this endeavor.
• California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). The DTSC’s mission is to protect human health and the environment from toxic harm. Check out their site for reports, case studies, factsheets, and other resources concerning the management of toxic chemicals and hazardous wastes, including electronics.
• Green Building, Construction, and Demolition.
  • Green Building. A CalRecycle page providing specifications, a tool kit, and publications are among the tools and resources that focus on sustainable design.
  • Health Care Building Design and Construction. This CalRecycle page provides information for the health care industry specific to sustainable design.
  • Construction and Demolition (C&D) Debris Recycling. Learn about the benefits of reusing and recycling construction and demolition debris. In addition, check out this CalRecycle page’s link “Tools for architects, builders, local government, and C&D recyclers.”
  • C&D Debris Recyclers Database. This CalRecycle database helps you find facilities in your county that accept construction and/or demolition materials for recycling or reuse. Categories include appliances, asphalt, brick, concrete, flooring, glass, drywall, paint, plastic, wood, and other items.
  • C&D Recycled-Content Building Products. A CalRecycle database listing manufacturers and distributors of recycled-content building products.
• Hospital Pollution Prevention Program. The California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) site provides information regarding mercury assessment, strategies to preventing pollution, greening your red bag waste, and a self-assessment manual for proper management of medical waste.
• Plastics Information and Resources. This CalRecycle page targets the world of plastics, including relevant laws, requirements, a list of recyclers, and ways to reduce plastic waste.
• Plastic Recyclers/Reprocessors Directory. A CalRecycle searchable directory of plastic recyclers and reprocessors that collect specific types of plastics for reuse and recycling in California and nationwide.
• Pollution Prevention. The U.S. EPA Region 9’s pollution prevention ideas and information for hospitals.
• Practice Greenhealth (merged with H2E). Practice Greenhealth is a membership organization dedicated to health-care facilities that are committed to being green. This site includes articles, resources, helpful tools, and awards.
• Waste Prevention Information Exchange. A CalRecycle directory of information specific to waste prevention.
• Health Care Industry Waste Reduction and Recycling. CalRecycle’s host of links for various materials and programs related to health care industry waste.
• Waste Prevention World. CalRecycle tips and tools for waste prevention at home and at the office.
• Waste Reduction and Recycling Posters and Stickers. Select from a list of posters and stickers on this CalRecycle business waste reduction page.
• World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Care Waste Management. WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system through global health issues, setting norms and standards, shaping health research, and providing technical support to countries.

Note: Any resources or content contained on this site that was not published by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery is not intended to be an endorsement of a particular company or process by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery.

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