Waste Management and Recycling in the Operating Theatre - A Sustainability-oriented Approach

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Healthcare Management
• Sustainability Studies

Background:

• Healthcare generates substantial waste, contributing significantly to national CO2 emissions.
• Operating theatres are major contributors to hospital waste, with disposal methods causing high emissions.
• A considerable portion of healthcare waste comprises valuable, recyclable materials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of waste segregation on waste volume and weight in trauma surgery operating theatres.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of staff training and structured waste separation protocols.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study measuring and statistically analyzing waste volume and weight per operation.
• Implementation of staff training followed by waste segregation into recyclable and non-recyclable streams.
• Comparison of pre- and post-segregation waste metrics.

Main Results:

• Pre-segregation: mean waste volume 219.6 L (±88.4 L) and weight 6.65 kg (±2.92 kg) per operation.
• Post-segregation: significant reduction in volume by 39.48% (p < 0.01) and weight by 15.44% (p = 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Effective waste segregation in operating theatres significantly reduces waste volume and weight.
• This practice facilitates the reintegration of recyclable materials into circular economies.
• Comprehensive staff education and structured implementation are crucial for successful waste reduction and decreased carbon footprint in healthcare settings.