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Before You Begin

Initial Waste Characterization

A hospital’s waste stream can be complex, and a few studies have been completed to characterize the waste

profile, which we summarize below.

Healthcare facilities in the United States generate approximately 6,600 tons of waste per day1. It is estimated

that between 20 and 25 percent of that 6,600 tons can be attributed to plastic packaging and plastic products2.

In addition, 85 percent of the waste generated is non-infectious3.

Based on this general information, an initial estimate of the amount of the plastics available for recycling at

your hospital might be calculated as follows:

See the Economic Pro Forma Tool for assistance in calculating quantities and costs of plastics recycling.

HPRC is conducting plastics recycling pilot studies with leading hospitals across the country and will publish

additional hospital waste characterization data as the pilot studies are completed.

REFERENCES

1 Kaplan, Susan, Sadler, Blair, Little, Kevin, Franz, Calvin, and Orris, Peter. “Can Sustainable Hospitals Help Bend the Health Care

Cost Curve?”, The Commonwealth Fund, Issue Brief, November 2012.

2 Lee, B., M. Ellenbecker, and R. Moure-Eraso. “Analyses of the Recycling Potential of Medical Plastic Wastes.” Waste Management

(2002): 461-470

3 Grogan, Terry. “Solid Waste Reduction in US Hospitals.” Hospital Engineering & Facilities Management (2003): 88‐91.

Total Estimated Amount

of Plastics Available for

Recycling (tons/year)

Total Amount of Hospital Waste

(solid, hazardous,

regulated medical, recycled)

(tons/years)

= x x 25% 85%