Mallika Mathew & Stella Wang
Each year, hospitals in the USA produce over 5.9 million tonnes of medical waste. This waste is contributed by the excess and used medical materials generated by physicians’ clinics, dentists, blood banks, research facilities and laboratories. Supplies such as hospital syringes, surgical masks, bandaging equipment, and test tubes are all forms of medical waste. This waste is harmful to the environment for two main reasons: one, it poses serious health hazards; and two, the magnitude of waste generated also exposes how highly unsustainable multiple healthcare practices are.
Medical waste is hazardous when not properly disposed of. Different waste types have different disposal procedures. Depending on the type of medical waste, either incineration or direct disposal in a landfill is the general practice. For instance, hazardous wastes like sharps, supplies contaminated with bodily fluids/ blood and radioactive wastes are incinerated while excess supplies or general wastes are sent to landfills. Incorrect disposal of these wastes poses a high risk of disease transmission and disease outbreaks amongst those in contact. A study revealed that between 50-70% of all hospital wastes are incorrectly marked bio-hazardous which prevents it from being recycled and results in a higher economic burden. This often results due to doctors’ first priority being their patients’ welfare which leads to them overlooking the waste they create.
A study by the World Health Organization found that the carbon footprint generated by the healthcare industry is extremely large with this industry alone contributing to 4.4% of all emitted greenhouse gasses. Since healthcare is such an indispensable part of our lives, solving the issue of unsustainability within this sector is highly complex. However, large changes begin with baby steps in the right direction which can be implemented at home. According to MIT News, COVID-19 disease prevention and treatment has been estimated to generate approximately 7,200 tons of waste daily, largely due to the use of disposable masks in response to the mask mandate. Reusable protective cloth masks should be used in place of single use medical masks, as they are equally effective in protecting against airborne viral transmission. Those requiring more protective masks with N95 filters should opt for silicone models. These masks, which were recently developed by a project team at MIT, can be used up to 20 times with proper sterilization and care. These alternatives are not only environmentally sustainable, but also cost-effective for the average consumer.
The issue of medical sustainability is more relevant to our everyday lives than expected. With mindful practices, we are able to make a larger impact than we may think; together, we can join together to pave the road towards a sustainable future on all fronts.
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