Less Waste
- Date: 1/25/2012 - 12:06 pm
The health care sector has virtually no choice but to become more environmentally responsible. Hospitals and health systems produce an astonishing 11.7 thousand tons of waste each day. That must change.
And it can. With the Less Waste How-To Guide, participants in the Less Waste Challenge will find the background information and step-by-step guidance needed to reduce, reuse, recycle and segregate waste more effectively, and become better environmental stewards.
Why Less Waste
Waste disposal can cause pollution and have a health impact on communities
- Hospitals generate a daily average of 26 pounds of waste per staffed bed
- Evidence has created rising concerns about mercury released from medical waste incinerators, vast volume of waste and pharmaceuticals in drinking water
Review the Less Waste Resources for details of each level of commitment and data measurements required.
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Baseline |
Report a waste baseline for: Solid waste, regulated medical waste, recycling and hazardous waste. Continue tracking for a three-year minimum. |
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Level 1 |
Commit to one of: Regulated medical waste reduction, recycling or construction and demolition diversion goals. |
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Level 2 |
Commit to two of: Regulated medical waste reduction, recycling or construction and demolition diversion goals. |
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Level 3 |
Commit to three of: Regulated medical waste reduction, recycling or construction and demolition diversion goals. |
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A Regulated Medical Waste Reduction: |
B Recycling: |
C Construction and Demolition Diversion: |
| Resources | |
|---|---|
| File Name | Download |
| Less Waste Fact Sheet.pdf | Download File |
| Less Waste Overview.pdf | Download File |
| Less Waste Measures.pdf | Download File |
| Less Waste Measure Details.pdf | Download File |
| Less Waste Numerical Examples.pdf | Download File |