Waste

Oakwell
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Waste

Optimizing the Management of Hospital Waste

Waste is a common challenge for healthcare organizations due to its complexity and volume, disposal and treatment regulations, chain of custody demands, and costs to manage.

Recycling, reuse programs, and integrating waste priorities into procurement all help to control rising disposal costs and mitigate the end-of-life impacts of waste. Oakwell’s expertise in the sustainable management of healthcare waste helps hospitals look upstream to manage inputs and reduce outputs by optimizing their waste sorting, disposal, and reuse practices, leading to less resource-intensive patient care delivery.

Why Focus on Sustainable Management of Healthcare Waste?

Prioritizing waste reduction through procurement and proper sorting and management reduces risks:

Environmental Impact — Growing volumes of landfilled and incinerated healthcare waste release harmful toxins in often disenfranchised communities, produce potent greenhouse gas emissions, and contribute to plastic pollution.
Regulatory Compliance — Regulations govern the processing, storing, transportation, and disposal of hazardous, regulated medical, pharmaceutical, and other wastes, and non-compliance can result in fines and corrective action.
Financial Burden — Inefficient waste management and excessive generation lead to unnecessary hauling and disposal costs for health systems.

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Proven Waste Management and Reduction Strategies for Hospitals

Oakwell takes a holistic approach to help hospitals measure, manage, and reduce waste through proven strategies:

Data Management and Analysis

Our team categorizes and measures your facilities’ generation and costs by waste stream. We streamline reporting and identify opportunities for material reduction, reuse, diversion, and recycling.

Waste Segregation and Reduction Strategies

We implement processes to reduce the generation of regulated medical waste (RMW) and ensure hazardous waste is handled safely while diverting waste volumes from landfills and incinerators.

Reprocessing and Recycling Programs

We maximize reprocessing program collections and rebate incentives, access vendor take-back offerings, and unlock recycling options to promote circularity and reduce waste impacts.

Vendor Partnerships

We help you establish partnerships with reputable vendors who support material reduction, material reuse, donations, landfill diversion, RMW reduction, and the safe and responsible disposal of hazardous medical waste.

Advantages of Oakwell’s Sustainability Management Services

Our team has decades of experience implementing and managing waste programs across health systems and understands firsthand your staff’s challenges and constraints.

When you partner with Oakwell, we’ll empower your organization to:

Reduce Your Environmental Impact

Our strategies minimize landfill and incineration waste, promote responsible disposal and diversion practices, and assist you in reducing Scope 3 emissions from waste.

Take a Life Cycle Approach

We look upstream to reduce materials inputs that result in excessive waste outputs to maximize the total cost of ownership and waste costs.

Lower Your Operating Costs

Effective waste management strategies and vendor contracting reduce staff labor, lower the amount of waste generated and disposal costs, and avoid potential regulatory fines.

Ensure Your Compliance

We make certain your waste management practices comply with all relevant local and federal regulations.

Improve Your Patient and Staff Safety and Satisfaction

We’ll help train staff on proper protocols, enhancing their job satisfaction, while creating a safer environment.

Oakwell’s sustainable management of healthcare waste empowers hospitals to lead in contributing to a more sustainable industry.