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Description
Global climate change is an issue of increasing public health concern, as levels of atmospheric greenhouse gases [GHG] continue to rise. Vector-born disease, air pollution, and heat-related deaths are projected to grow as global temperatures increase. Higher frequency and severity of weather events such as droughts, floods, and fires will threaten resources for fresh water, food and shelter. Although carbon dioxide (CO_) is the main GHG implicated for climate change, methane (CH_) is also a major GHG, 72 times more potent than CO_ over 20 years. As organic waste decomposes in landfills, the biogas produced is 50% CO_ and 50% CH_. Landfills emit a significant amount of U.S. CH_ emissions. Recycling programs focus on diverting waste from landfills; however, recycling processes also emit GHGs. The USEPA's Waste Reduction Model (WARM) provides material-specific GHG emissions estimates that result from changes in waste management practices for 40 different waste materials. Healthcare is a sector that produces significant amounts of waste. Hospitals are under financial pressure, with few resources available to startup and staff solid waste recycling programs. Programs that have begun must prove to be a beneficial use of resources. The objectives of this research were to calculate rates of recycling and waste disposal at 5 hospitals in San Diego County, to quantify net GHG emissions from current waste management efforts, and to identify healthcare waste streams with the greatest opportunity for GHG emissions reductions, through waste minimization and/or source reduction. Average recycling rate (RR) for San Diego County hospitals was 25.7%. Using WARM, net GHG emissions (alt-base) for San Diego County hospitals waste management activities were estimated to be 3,778.38 metric tons (MT) carbon dioxide equivalents (CO_Eq) per year. Waste streams with greatest opportunity for GHG emissions reductions were "Office Paper" and "Computers." It was found that if San Diego County hospitals reduced office (copy) paper usage by 50% and extended the working life of computers for one year (without recycling or replacing), net GHG emissions (as compared to a baseline recycling scenario) would be (-18,802.39) MT CO_Eq. A 50% reduction in Office Paper usage alone would result in 8.96 lbs less CO_ emissions per staffed bed per day. This study's results illustrate that maximum potential GHG emissions savings was achieved through a combination of adjustments to waste management practices: a simple recipe of recycling, waste minimization and source reduction. More specifically, an average hospital can reduce GHG emissions by over 1,000 MT CO_Eq per year by establishing (1) a baseline recycling program of at least 25%, (2) waste minimization of 10-20%, (3) source reduction of office (copy) paper by 50%, and (4) extending the life of computers by one year.
