Recycling

Why Recycle?

Recycling is a common method for reducing waste disposal at health care facilities. Recycling diverts waste from the landfill, reducing waste disposal costs and, in some instances, generating revenue from the sale of recyclable materials. In addition, recycling provides your facility with an opportunity to be a good steward of the environment. For the most part, recycling is not more work than your facility’s current waste disposal practices; rather, it is different. With some time and effort, most facilities can achieve at least a 10% recycling rate, while many hospitals are achieving a 25% or more recycling rate.

The diverse operations of a health care facility generate a wide variety of materials that can be recycled. Most often, recyclable materials are simply managed as non-hazardous solid waste; however, a few recyclable materials are considered universal wastes by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and require special handling. In some instances, health care facilities must abide by industry-specific guidelines for recycling certain materials. One example is paper, where the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) provides guidance on the disposal of confidential documents.

The following topics are covered in this section of the website:

1. Specific Recyclable Materials: Learn what specific materials being disposed of at your facility are recyclable, where these materials are commonly generated, and important considerations for recycling these items.

1. HIPAA: Discover how HIPAA provides an opportunity for recycling paper when your facility destroys confidential documents. In addition, use PowerPoint presentations and guidance documents prepared by Practice Greenhealth to develop confidential document disposal policies for your facility that are environmentally responsible and fiscally prudent.

1. Universal Waste: Learn what wastes at your health care facility may be characterized as universal wastes, as well as state-specific rules that exist under the Federal regulations that govern universal waste management.

1. Other Recycling Resources: Find additional resources on recycling, including national recycling programs, to better understand recycling opportunities.

1. Success Stories: Many health care facilities have already experienced the benefits of recycling programs, including the following:

Has your facility successfully implemented a recycling program? Help us share your successes with other hospital peers. Contact Practice Greenhealth and we’ll help you write up a mini case study that you can share with your facility, community, and local press.

Recycling Containers

Finding the right recycling container can be a challenge. it is important to find a container made of recycled content as well as one with an opening suitable to the material for which it is being utilized. Click here to learn more about EPA’s guidelines for recycled content in recycling containers and waste receptacles. Other resources include:

• The Recycled Content Product Directory: Recycling
• Vendors of Recycled Content Recycling Bins and Containers- City of St. Louis Recycling Program

Key Resources

Practice Greenhealth Waste Reduction Guide – Section V – Recyclables and Solid Waste
Practice Greenhealth. August 15, 1999.
Discusses how to set up a recycling program in a health care facility, including ideas of what to recycle, how to recycle, recycling containers and storage, and composting.

An Ounce of Prevention: Waste Reduction Strategies for Health Care Facilities. (Chapter 2, Why Recycle at Health Care Facilities?, and Chapter 3, Where to Start?)
American Society for Healthcare Environmental Services (ASHES). 1993.
Outlines several reasons to recycle, such as cost containment and corporate responsibility (Chapter 2) and describes how to establish a recycling program as well as provides case studies of existing recycling programs in health care facilities (Chapter 3). Note: This document is 13 MB and may take several minutes to download.

Guidelines for a Hospital Recycling Program with Cost/Revenue Analyses
Prepared for the Ohio Hospital Association by CGH Environmental Strategies. November 1991.
Presents guidelines for a hospital recycling program, discusses employee involvement and ownership, and describes cost/revenue analyses of a hospital recycling program.

Hospital Recycling Program
Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. June 7, 2004.
Provides guidance on materials to recycle, collection or storage containers needed, and equipment needed to operate a hospital recycling program as well as how to process and market recyclable materials, how to educate participants in a recycling program, and where cost savings can be realized from establishing a hospital recycling program.

Waste Reduction and Recycling for Hospitals and Health Care Facilities.
South Carolina’s Business Recycling Assistance Program (BRAP).
Outlines steps for building a successful waste reduction and recycling program and discusses several types of recyclables to consider.

Recycling Works Tip Sheet: Hospitals and Health Care Institutions
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Provides tips for recycling materials found in the hospital waste stream.