The Average Annual Plastic Waste in Hospitals May Be Higher Than You Think
Reducing waste in your own life may be difficult. Maybe you’ve made the switch from single-use plastic water bottles to stainless steel tumblers. However, where does the plastic packaging found in food — yogurt, salad dressing, peanut butter, etc. — come into play? Whether we like it or not, we’re a long way from totally cutting plastics out of our daily lives. In fact, it’s necessary for an industry like healthcare, which is why the average annual plastic waste in hospitals is so high.
The Average Annual Plastic Waste in Hospitals
Ssingle-use plastic is often hospitals’ best, most sterile option for healthcare tools and personal protective equipment (PPE). Additionally, plastic is cost-effective, durable, and easy to dispose of.
That’s why, according to an article published in the American Medical Association (AMA) Journal of Ethics, healthcare facilities produce nearly 14,000 tons of waste per day in the U.S. alone, and 20% to 25% is that plastic. After doing the math, this adds up to anywhere between 2,800 and 3,500 tons of plastic thrown out daily, making the average annual plastic waste in hospitals equals anywhere from 1,022,000 to 1,277,500 tons. It’s also worth noting that 91% of that plastic waste either cannot be — or simply is not — recycled, thus ending up in landfills.
Most Common Single-Use Plastic Products Found in Hospital
Some examples of the most-used plastic items in hospitals include syringes, intravenous bags, catheters, test kits, gloves, and other PPE, including masks. Due to the nature of these items, they are considered biohazards and cannot be recycled.
However, the healthcare industry as a whole currently discourages reusing plastic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s current requirements for the reprocessing of reusable medical devices deter reuse and encourages single-use plastics to avoid contamination and overall liability. Additionally, the healthcare industry and single-use plastic producers are not penalized for their excessive waste contribution and the subsequent environmental impacts.
How Much PPE Contributes to Plastic Waste in Hospitals
The need for PPE only increased with the COVID-19 pandemic, causing shortages and, overall, more waste. For example, in March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated a 40% increase in disposable PPE production, most of which is expected to have ended up as waste. Additionally, a study published by the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that approximately 57 million pounds of PPE and other COVID-19-related waste ended up in our oceans. Nearly 75% of that waste came from hospitals.
“A systemic change in how health care manages its waste would include greater and systematic scrutiny and better procurement practices,” Dr. Anne Woolridge, Chair of the Health Care Waste Working Group, International Solid Waste Association (ISWA), said in an article published by the WHO. “There is growing appreciation that health investments must consider environmental and climate implications, as well as a greater awareness of co-benefits of action. For example, safe and rational use of PPE will not only reduce environmental harm from waste, but it will also save money, reduce potential supply shortages, and further support infection prevention by changing behaviours.”
However, there is hope. According to an article published in the BMJ Open, providing a new disposable respirator for each healthcare worker in the U.S. after each patient encounter would result in 185.2 million pounds of waste over a six-month period. If hospitals made the switch to reusable respirators with disposable filters — without changing anything else — that number would significantly reduce to about 34.67 million pounds of waste (roughly an 81.3% decrease).
How Teal Bio is Helping Reduce Plastic Waste in Healthcare
While safety is paramount in healthcare, Teal Bio believes technological advancements and innovation could reduce the amount of single-use plastics in hospitals. That’s why Teal Bio is designing a reusable respirator constructed with a silicone, transparent mask, and partially biodegradable filters. What’s more, the mask itself is moldable for a better, more comfortable fit, and when used properly, it may be used for up to one year. Like plastic, silicone is easy to sterilize, ensuring the safety of healthcare workers and patients.
Currently, the N95 mask (a single-use plastic mask) is the industry standard. While it benefits workers by protecting them from potentially dangerous particles, it’s designed — and recommended by the CDC — to only be worn once. However, research funded by MIT suggests that if healthcare workers can reuse their masks, costs, and environmental waste would decline by at least 75 percent.
Nonetheless, even with a reusable respirator available, it will be up to hospitals and the rest of the healthcare industry to make a conscious effort to reuse and reduce single-use plastic when possible. Not only will this significantly reduce waste, but as a result, it could help improve our long-term health overall.
You can learn more about the Teal Bio Reusable Respirator on our website and join the waitlist today.
