Developing the green operating room: exploring barriers and opportunities to reducing operating room waste

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Health
• Healthcare Management

Background:

• The Australian healthcare system significantly contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and waste.
• Operating rooms are major contributors, generating substantial hospital waste.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze strategies and barriers for sustainable waste management in operating rooms.
• To identify knowledge gaps in current surgical waste research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of global academic databases (1992-2022).
• Thematic analysis to identify and characterize waste management strategies and barriers.

Main Results:

• Waste reduction strategies include product avoidance, correct segregation, reuse/reprocessing, and recycling.
• Barriers include the 'do no harm' principle favoring single-use items, inadequate education, immediate costs versus long-term benefits, and lack of policies.
• Knowledge gaps exist in benchmarking, standardized regulations for reusable devices, and promoting sustainable behavior.

Conclusions:

• Implementing sustainable waste management in operating rooms requires addressing ingrained practices, enhancing education, and establishing supportive policies.
• Overcoming barriers is essential for reducing the environmental impact of surgical waste and achieving long-term economic benefits.