P2: Health Care Material and Waste Storage

Store temperature and light sensitive photo processing chemicals properly

• Read product labels and/or material safety data sheets for specific storage information
• Reduces product loss and cost

Apportion waste management costs to the departments that generate the waste.

• Encourages each department to conduct a waste audit
• Rewards departments that have achieved the greatest reductions

Negotiate more efficient solid waste disposal contracts

• A pay-as-you-throw contract is ideal because it aids facility in tracking waste generation and associated costs, as well as the cost-savings from waste minimization and recycling

Service-Based Solid Waste Disposal Contracts

• Most common because easily managed by waste haulers
• Require hauler to report disposal by weight
• Help better calculate true cost per ton of waste disposed
• Require pick-up of full dumpsters only to decrease pick-up frequency
• Monitor fluctuation of waste throughout the year. Solid waste disposal quantities and costs should reflect patient load.
• If waste hauler is also a recycler, request additional containers for high-volume recyclables, such as paper and cardboard.

See H2E guidelines for solid waste disposal for more information that can reduce operating costs.

 

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