Turing Healthcare Green

1. Turing Healthcare Green Reduce, Reuse & Recycle Lisa Scheidelman MPH Student Walden University PUBH 6165-3 Dr. Raymond Thron Spring 2009

2. Objectives: • Describe the benefits of a recycling program within a healthcare facility. • Explain the cost benefit analysis of such program. • List the roles and importance of a “Green Team.” • Describe a recycling plan. • Recognize the items included in the recycling waste stream: Plastic, Bottles, Cans, Paper, Cardboard, etc.

3. Why Recycle? • Environmental benefits • Reduces green house gas emissions • Conserves natural resources • Saves energy • Economic benefits • Saves money • Creates US jobs

4. Environmental Benefits • Preserves the environment • Diverts nearly 70 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators. • 17 trees are saved for every ton of paper recycled. • Energy reduction • One recycled glass bottle is enough to light a light bulb for fourhours. • Manufacturing with recyclable material saves energy, water, and produces less air and water pollution. • Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions • A national recycling rate reduces 30% of greenhouse emissions. • This is equivalent to removing nearly 25 million cars from the road. • Conserves natural resources • Timber, water, and minerals. • Prevents habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, and soil erosion associated with logging and mining. (National Recycling Coalition, 2009)

5. Economic Benefits • Saves money • Recycling programs cost less to operate than waste collection, land filling, and incineration. • Thousands of U.S. companies have saved millions of dollars through their voluntary recycling programs. • Employment • Recycling creates four jobs for every one job created in the waste management and disposal industries. • 1.1 million jobs • $236 billion in gross annual sales and $37 billion in annual payrolls. (National Recycling Coalition, 2009)

6. Healthcare Waste Composition • Waste Stream (recyclable) • Paper • White paper, newspaper, cardboard, mixed paper, etc. • Other Organic materials • Food, remainder/composite paper, cardboard, green waste • E-Waste • Electronics, computers, hardware equipment, batteries • Medical Waste (non-recyclable)

7. Hospital Recycling Program: • Organize a Green Team • Develop a Recycling Plan • Goals & Objectives • Recycling company • Recycling containers • Location evaluation • Education • Monitor • Sustainability

8. Green Team • Team Leaders • Obtain management support • Group Members • Representative from various departments • Responsible for educating and training their department on Green Team efforts • Meetings • Meet regularly to discuss ideas and progress from previous weeks • Goals • Develop sustainable, achievable, and measurable goals • Reduce the percent of discarded recyclable waste • Increase awareness • Fundraisers • Seedlings • Farmers Market • Earth Day • Survey the hospital • Recycling can placement • Identify areas for improvement • Post information on the hospital’s website

9. Recycling Plan:Goals & Objectives • Perform a waste assessment to identify recyclable materials. • Plan to recycle: Aluminum, Plastic, Glass, Cardboard, and non-HIPPA paper. • Set measurable goals (pounds of waste streams) • Reduce the total monthly pounds of non-recyclable waste • Increase the percent of recyclable waste • Increase awareness

10. Waste Management Scorecard

11. Collection Method & Recycling Companies • Collection methods: Single or Multi-stream • Single stream: hospital staff dispose all recyclables into one bin and an outside company separates the items (ideal). • Multi-stream: when disposing, hospital staff must segregate the recyclables into the appropriate container. • Investigate various recycling companies and contracts. • Disposal requirements, cost, storage, scheduled pick ups Multi-Stream

12. Identifying Areas for Recycle Bins • Hospital Survey: • Examine the entire facility, interview employees, look for space for container placement, and find out which areas generate large volumes of recyclables. • Performed by Green Team Leaders and Environmental Services (EVS). • Example: • Hospital Employee Kitchens/Lounges, Cafeteria, Auditorium • Offices, Waiting Rooms, Main Lobby, Elevators, Nurse Stations • Courtyard, Specialty Areas (Print Shop) • Evaluation & Analysis: • Design a spreadsheet consisting of the location and number of desired recycling bins.

13. Recycle Containers Rubbermaid Products • Slim Jim • Untouchable container • Deskside container • Classic container

14. Slim Jim Containers • Space saving profile fits in: • Staff Lounges/Kitchens, Offices, Waiting Rooms, Nurse Stations, Specialty Areas • Color options • Needs to be a uniform color, not already in use • Lid options • Round hole top • Swing Lid • Hinged Lid Slim Jim

15. Slim Jim Containers • Staff Lounges & Kitchens waste containers can be replaced by Slim Jim A large container for General Wasteis not necessary. Replace it with a small clear bag trash can and a recycling container Only need 1 General Waste container once the program starts

16. Untouchable Container • Sleek design for professional image in: • Cafeteria • Place container next to every General Waste collection station. • Waiting Rooms • Vending machines & magazines generate recyclables.

17. Deskside Container • Option for Nurse Stations & Offices • Container fits right under desk • Side Bin option for collecting 2 waste streams

18. Classics Container • Adjustable leg levelers compensate for uneven surfaces • Cable secured top lifts off for maintenance • Dual retainer bands secure poly bags neatly inside 25 gallon rigid plastic liner • Uni-Koat powder coated finish top, endures severe weather and constant use • Heavy gauge, fire safe steel recycling receptacle provides a clean appearance

19. Collection Process: BRUTE Trainable Dolly • Housekeeper can collect 3 waste streams at once • Recyclables, non-recyclables, and biohazardous • Hospitals may already have BRUTE containers for General & Biohazardous Waste • Employees can dump full Slim Jim or Deskside Containers into BRUTE in Soiled Utility Closet • More productive for housekeeping staff Easily detach dolly with foot

20. Education Plan & Staff Participation • Hold training sessions for employees on Why, What, and How the hospital is recycling • Create a recycling sign • List what items are acceptable/unacceptable for the recycle bins (include pictures) • Post near recycle container and on internal website • Create awareness with Posters, Flyers, Newsletters, word-of-mouth, and staff E-mails • Develop a contest to reward the floor/unit who collects the most recyclables each week to motivate employees. • Recognize and praise those already recycling • Publicize on hospital website • Frequently Asked Questions • Do’s and Don’ts of recycling • Feedback

21. Rolling Out The Program Phases of The Program • While practically all of the areas of the hospital generate recyclable waste, for a more successful implementation break the program into phases • Start with your employee areas and work your way to the public areas. • Phases By Area: • Employee Kitchens/Lounges • Nurse Stations, Offices, Specialty Areas • Cafeteria, Courtyard, Auditorium • Main Lobby, Waiting Rooms, Elevators

22. Distribution Day • Set a date • Announce date to hospital staff • Have a central distribution location for recycle bins • Environmental Services • Green Team Members & Volunteers • Collect recycle bin and poster for their department • Educate fellow peers • Take pictures to post on hospital website

23. Tracking Success • Waste Management Scorecard • Set measurable goals (pounds of waste streams) • Track pounds of waste streams • Analyze monthly averages • Publicize your success. • Share these successes with employees and the public. • Employee Feedback • Question how many are participating • Question how efficient program is • Question how productive EVS staff is with recyclable waste removal • Utilize Healthcare Specialist • Perform Needs Analysis 6-10 months into program to find areas of improvement

24. Future Plans • Battery Recycling • Develop a central collection location • E-Waste Collection • Organize a E-Waste collection day and allow employees to bring disposable items from home. • Reduce Medical Waste (biohazardous) • Survey medical waste containers • Educate staff on medical waste definition • Remove Styrofoam products • Not recyclable

25. References Moeller, D. W. (2005). Environmental health (3rd ed.). Boston: Harvard University Press. National Recycling Coalition. (2009). Retrieved on 04/25/09, from http://www.nrc-recycle.org/. Rubbermaid (2009). Recycling Products. Retrieved on 04/25/09, from http://www.rubbermaid.com/rubbermaid/product/product.jhtml?prodId=HPProd260049.

26. Please Recycle If not, it will live in a Landfill…..forever!