Green operating room project in a multidisciplinary Surgical Unit

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Healthcare Management
• Waste Management

Background:

• The healthcare system significantly contributes to the climate emergency, with operating rooms generating substantial medical waste.
• Effective waste management, including proper segregation and definition of biohazardous waste, is crucial for reducing environmental impact in surgical units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of enhanced waste segregation protocols in a multispecialty surgical unit.
• To quantify the impact of improved waste sorting on biohazardous waste production.

Main Methods:

• A 3-week observational period was compared with a subsequent 3-week experimental period with heightened waste sorting attention.
• Data collected included counts of paper/plastic bags and the number/weight of biohazardous waste.
• Multiple regression analysis was used to assess waste reduction trends and identify high-waste surgical branches.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in paper and plastic bag production was observed between periods.
• A statistically significant reduction in biohazardous waste was achieved, decreasing from 20 kg to 24 kg over 3 weeks per procedure.
• Orthopedic procedures generated the highest amount of hazardous medical waste (9.35 kg per intervention).

Conclusions:

• Careful waste segregation in operating rooms is vital for reducing environmental impact and achieving economic savings.
• Targeted interventions and teamwork are essential for developing effective, tailored waste reduction solutions in healthcare settings.
• Identifying high-waste surgical specialties like Orthopedics allows for focused waste reduction strategies.