How to Reduce Medical Waste

There are strict procedures in place to store, remove, and dispose of different types of medical waste. Minimising medical waste reduces the risk of improper disposal of clinical waste such as medical instruments, PPE, and medication. This helps limit the potential spread of infection and diseases and contamination of other waste.

Any medical waste that ends up in a landfill site can cause serious problems. Due to the potentially hazardous and toxic nature of some clinical waste, it can leach into the ground and contaminate nearby water as well. Many types of medical waste take a long time to decompose and add to methane emissions too.

Lots of medical waste is incinerated and destroyed as a safe disposal method. Depending on the type of medical waste and the facility, the process may convert waste into energy, which is more sustainable than simply burning waste. However, many incineration processes release hazardous and toxic gases into the air, including particulate matter, metals, acid gases, and sulphur.

Reducing medical waste means less is sent for incineration, which should ensure less air pollution is produced. Transporting medical waste from hospitals, healthcare facilities, and dental surgeries to waste management facilities also adds to carbon emissions. The less clinical waste produced, the fewer collections and journeys are required. This also helps save money on waste management costs.

The healthcare sector covers everything from dental practices to care homes and pharmacies, so the waste it produces varies. Unsurprisingly the NHS is the healthcare sector’s largest employer with 1.5 million workers in the UK, but there are plenty of private healthcare organisations too.

Similar steps can help reduce across the healthcare sector even though the activities and waste produced differ in type and volume across it. Here are a few ideas for ways to reduce waste in healthcare facilities:

• Provide reusable PPE – single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) is common in many healthcare facilities. It’s used and thrown away immediately, which prevents contamination, but creates lots of waste for incineration. Switching to reusable PPE that can be used multiple times without contamination risks reduces waste.
• Donate unused instruments – single-use instruments are another source of waste. Some charities accept unused medical instruments from single-use instrument packs (like coil or minor ops packs) and send them to hospitals in Africa where resources are limited.
• Minimise paper copies – many healthcare facilities have already switched to digital practices, which minimises and eliminates lots of paper waste. Put a policy in place for when physical paper copies are required to reduce how much paper is used in the healthcare centre.
• Repair medical equipment – steel is used in many medical instruments but is a finite resource. Repairing medical instruments where possible reduces waste and saves resources and energy. Electronic medical equipment can also be repaired rather than replaced to reduce waste. Buying reconditioned medical equipment cuts back on waste and saves money too.

It’s estimated that every year £300 million of NHS prescribed medicines go to waste. There are various reasons behind this, from medicines expiring on the shelves of pharmacies to accidental disposals. Pharmaceuticals are also wasted at home in some cases as well as at many healthcare facilities.

Here’s how to reduce pharmaceutical waste as a healthcare provider and an individual:

• Donate excess medications – if you’ve got lots of medication that’s due to expire in the near future and is unlikely to be used, certain places accept such donations. Normally they’ll only be accepted if there are at least six months left before expiry.
• Order what you need – prescribing only what’s required rather than dispensing medicines for a longer time than necessary helps cut back on medication waste. Individuals should also refrain from stockpiling over-the-counter (OTC) medication, as it may expire before use, so only order what you need.
• Follow the instructions – failing to adhere to instructions can result in some medication being spoiled before it can be used. Follow the instructions on the pack or from a medical professional to prevent spoilage.
• Use less packaging – healthcare facilities and hospitals can bulk purchase pharmaceuticals to reduce packaging in some cases. Seek medication in recyclable packaging where possible and with reusable elements, such as Vagirux that comes with a reusable applicator.