MIRTMedical Industry Waste Reduction Roundtable

Dave Waddell

Local HW Mgmt Program- King County

dave.waddell@metrokc.gov

MIRT’s Purpose

• Bring together medical professionals

• Facilitate exchange of environmental ideas

• Prevent and reduce waste

• Bridge regulator/medical facilities barrier

• Conduct seminars and facilitate round tables

• Research info needed by hospitals

MIRT Begins - 1999

• Original focus: Solid Waste• Started meeting in 1999• Had 9 roundtable meetings• Developed e-mail list of

interested contacts• Decided seminar format

would be useful

MIRT Seminars - 2000

• Five seminars in 2000– Managing Medical Plastics

– Managing Chemicals - Pt 1

– Alternative Products

– Managing Chemicals - Pt 2

– Green Purchasing

• Round Table Format• 25% of time - networking

MIRT Seminars - 2001

• Four seminars in 2001– Energy & Water Mgmt

– Building Green Facilities

– Mercury Reduction

– Managing Chemicals, pt. 3

• Half-day, start @ 8:00• Maintain same location• Promote discussion

MIRT Seminars - 2002

• Three seminars in 2002– Measuring Waste Mgmt

– Pharmaceuticals (intro)

– Mercury Reduction

• Trying to spread MIRT• Hg Seminars

– 3 sites across state

– Offer to help start MIRT

MIRT Seminars - 2003

• One done– Cleaners & Disinfectants

• One planned– Pharmaceuticals (BMPs)

• Outreach to Veterinarians• Link to clinics

Why Talk w/ Hospitals & Clinics?

• Highly educated• Orientation: health & safety• Clinics are CESQGs • Haz waste = Biomedical

waste, right?• Agreement: EPA & H2E

– Mercury elimination

– Total waste reduction

Coordination: Putting on the Show

• Reps from Two Hospitals• EPA• State Dept of Ecology• Seattle/King County• Hospital Waste Consultant• Physician/Consultant• Non-profit • Insurance Industry Rep

Nuts & Bolts• $15,000 per year (EPA grant)

– Consultant facilitation

– Research on specific topics

• 0.25 FTE– Database of contacts & info

– Compile info, send to listserve

• Seminar prep: All in-kind– Invitations, copies, mailing,

snacks & coffee, speaking

• UW gave great room for free

Benefits of Doing This

• Changes behavior– Real opportunities for change

• Inexpensive to do• Existing agreements to improve

environmental practices• Well educated industry• We can learn from each other• Get to find & hear good speakers