Waste education in healthcare
In 2017-18 Victorian public health services generated approximately 35,000 tonnes of solid waste and of this approximately:
- 8,000 tonnes was recycled
- 5,000 tonnes was clinical waste
- 22,000 tonnes was classified as general waste.
The disposal costs of this solid waste were close to $17 million, of which half was for treating and disposing of clinical waste.
About the project
Sustainability Victoria, in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, are undertaking a two-year project (2018–2020) to explore waste avoidance, resource recovery opportunities and to minimise clinical waste costs in the healthcare system.
The Waste education in healthcare project involves trialling 8 interventions and measuring their impacts and these include:
- Waste audit guidelines
- Clinical waste guidelines clarification and FAQs
- E-waste to landfill ban
- Piloting waste segregation on wards
- PVC recycling
- Single use metal recycling
- Mentoring workshops
- Online education resource
An outline of the research findings and interventions is available on the Waste education in healthcare summary report page on the Health Victoria website.