Contact Pacific Southwest Waste Program
Pacific Southwest, Region 9
Serving: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Pacific Islands, Tribal Nations
Pollution Prevention
Hospital Pollution Prevention
On This Page:
- Hospital P2 Work and Resources in EPA Region 9
- Region 9 and our partners have developed several resources and tools for hospitals.
Tools and Training - More Hospital Waste Reduction Resources
Hospital P2 Work and Resources in EPA Region 9
EPA Region 9 works with hospitals, tribes, state and local agencies, and non-governmental organizations to prevent pollution from hospitals.
Region 9's Hospital Pollution Prevention work includes developing tools and resources such as posters and fact sheets, and supporting training.
Fact Sheets
The fact sheets below provide complete environmental, technical and economic evaluations of key Pollution Prevention "fixes" for hospitals. Here are the four fact sheets:
You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more about PDF, and for a link to the free Adobe Reader.
- Eliminating Mercury in Hospitals (PDF, 12 pp., 757 KB)
Identifies where mercury is found in hospitals, how it be eliminated and cost savings. Explains why mercury should be eliminated - Using Microfiber Mops in Hospitals (PDF, 4 pp., 412 KB)
Describes new mopping system and offers detailed case study and cost information for switching from conventional wet loop mops to microfiber mops for floor cleaning. Highlights the benefits including shorter cleaning times, reduced chemical and water use, and easier ergonomics - Reducing Ethylene Oxide and Glutaraldehyde (PDF, 4 pp., 364 K)
Provides information on the hazards of EtO and glutaraldehyde, and alternatives to their use. Includes a detailed case study, and cost information to help your hospital evaluate making the switch - Reusable Totes, Blue Wrap Recycling, and Composting (PDF, 6 pp., 528 KB)
Offers information on solid waste reduction opportunities including costs, savings, and implementation issues. Includes case studies of paper (including cardboard), plastics, and food waste, three of the largest components of hospitals' solid waste streams
Hard copies of these fact sheets can be obtained by calling (800) 490-9198. Ask for "The Pollution Prevention Tool Kit, Best Environmental Practices for Hospitals" (publication number EPA 909-E-02-001).
Red Bag Poster and Sticker
The Contra Costa Health Department, Hazardous Materials Program, using EPA Region 9 grant funding developed this Poster titled "Know Where to Throw" focused on appropriate handling of red bag or medical waste. Putting materials into a red bag that can be recycled or disposed of in the solid wastestream is both costly and potentially hazardous to the environment. This poster is appropriate for California medical waste requirements.
Go to CalRecycle's "Red Bag (Biohazards) Waste" Web page 
to order these posters.
Hospital P2 and Mercury Reduction
Hospital P2 and Mercury Reduction Tools: With a Pollution Prevention grant from Region 9, the California Department of Health Services developed several useful tools that will help hospitals reduce their hazardous, medical and solid waste including:
- Hospital Pollution Prevention – included mercury assessment tools
- Guide to Mercury Assessment and Elimination in Healthcare Facilities (PDF)
Developed by the California Department of Health Services
Pollution Prevention for Healthcare Professionals
- San Francisco Department of the Environment
From 2006 to 2008, SF Environment managed a health care pollution prevention project through a grant from the EPA. They organized workshops to educate local hospital staff on health care-specific environmental issues and facilitated discussions between health care professionals. Projects include a pharmaceutical waste fact sheet, janitorial and pesticide product assessment. See the link below for more information and presentations on this topic.
Training resources
- Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network Hospital Pollution Prevention Training Workshop Proceedings
For information on a Pollution Prevention workshops for hospitals, check out the presentations given at a Workshop in Phoenix Arizona held sponsored jointly by EPA Region 9, and Arizona DEQ. The workshop addressed a wide range of topics including: mercury elimination, alternatives to DEHP, microfiber mops, solidwaste reduction and recycling, sterilants and disinfectants, pharmaceutical waste disposal, environmentally preferable purchasing, red bag waste minimization, and green building. - The Center for Environmental Health (CEH)
CEH sponsored the California Sustainable Hospitals Forum on June 25, 2003. - Hawaii Department of Health P2 resources and presentations
For additional information about Region 9's hospital Pollution Prevention work, please contact Wendi Shafir (shafir.wendi@epa.gov).
More Hospital Waste Reduction Resources
General Resources
- Resources - Healthcare P2 websites (PDF) (2 pp, 271K)
-
Practice Greenhealth (formerly H2E)
For more information about the hospital Pollution Prevention partnership program, check out this website with lots of resources. - Sustainable Hospitals
- Health Care Without Harm
- Green Guide for Healthcare
Resources for California
- California Medical Waste Management Program
- CalRecycle (California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery) HealthCare Waste Web Page
CalRecycle maintains an excellent web page on healthcare waste reduction. - The Northern California Green Hospital Group