Health Care Facilities
The following segments are taken from an article by Michelle Beaver published in Infection Control Today.
"Many American hospitals suffer from “sick building syndrome” due to toxic cleaners and poor indoor air quality that could be mitigated through a switch to environmentally friendly practices. The continuing onslaught of infectious organisms, however, makes the prospect of switching regiments precarious.
But if there’s any truth to the maxim, “if you keep doing what you’re doing you’re going to keep getting what you’ve got,” then it’s probable that change is necessary in order to create a healthier environment inside, and outside of healthcare facilities.
Several hospital staffs have adopted green cleaning principles, and most started in the least critical areas of the building. In the average healthcare center, after all, about half the building — offices and public corridors — have cleaning needs similar to those of any hotel or school." -Michelle Beaver ICT
The amount and content of healthcare industry waste is significant and includes:
- solid waste (trash)
- biohazards (sharps, red bag waste)
- hazardous waste (chemicals, solvents, mercury)
- pharmaceuticals (chemotherapy drugs, narcotics, controlled substances)
- universal wastes (computers, batteries, fluorescent bulbs)
- recyclables (paper, cardboard, metal, glass, plastic), food and organic waste
- radioactive waste4
