Medical facilities generate a considerable amount of waste, including packaging materials, which can have negative environmental impacts. Stanford University Medical Center recognized the potential to repurpose medical waste and reduce their environmental impact.

The disposal of medical waste, including plastic packaging, is a significant challenge for healthcare facilities worldwide.

The Stanford University Medical Center embarked on a pioneering plastic recycling project with recycler Greenwaste. The plastic waste was collected and sent to a local recycling facility where it was sorted, processed, and turned into new products. The recycled plastic was used to create a variety of products, including plastic lumber, park benches, and shipping pallets. These products were used by the hospital and other healthcare facilities in the area, reducing the need for new materials and diverting waste from landfills.

The study is fully funded and fully implemented by Stanford University Medical Center with technical support provided by HPRC.

Many hospitals now recycle plastic water bottles, food service plastics and even blue sterilization wrap, but the pilot studies raise the bar significantly. The Stanford study, which is now about three-quarters' complete, will include data from plastic waste collected in surgical services, interventional services including catheterization and angiography labs, pre and post-anesthesia care settings and pharmacy.

Overall, Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ comprehensive waste minimization program directly reduces operational expenses, benefiting the organization’s bottom line. The commingled recycling program developed in partnership with Greenwaste offers a 75% cost savings per open-container pull, compared with municipal waste disposal costs.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash