Reduce—recycle—reuse: guidelines for promoting perioperative waste management

AORN Journal,  April, 2007  by Gary Laustsen

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REUSE

A third method for greening perioperative areas is to reuse items. Historically, sterilization has been a typical method for hospitals to repeatedly reuse surgical instruments. The more recent trend toward using disposable instruments and equipment originated partly from increased concerns over the potential spread of infectious disease such as HIV or hepatitis by reuse of surgical instruments. The expanded development and promotion of less-expensive, plastic surgical supplies and equipment also has contributed to the use of disposable items in health care facilities.

DISPOSABLE ITEM COSTS. Surgical services managers should evaluate the life-cycle costs of disposable items in addition to their monetary costs. These life-cycle costs include the costs of production, transport, storage, use, and disposal of nonreusable equipment. The initial purchase of reusable equipment often is more expensive than the cost of disposable items; however, if the entire life-cycle costs of disposable products are evaluated, it could be that sterilizing and reusing instruments and equipment is more economically and environmentally positive.

BENEFITS OF GREEN NURSING

Greening the perioperative setting may help improve staff member morale, and it promotes both economic savings and ecological sustainability. Many Americans believe in cultivating personal and professional environmentally friendly activities. Nurses interviewed for the author's research indicated the discordant feelings they experienced between their personal desire to live ecologically and the barriers present in the workplace to practice ecologically.

   Personnel should become ecologically
   sensitive and advocate changes that
   reduce the quantity of waste generated
   while maintaining quality patient
   care and worker safety. (32(p525))

Greening practices within the perioperative setting that contribute to sustaining the environment will be welcomed and supported by many members of the health care team. Additionally, working for a facility that promotes caring and conservation will enhance an environmental "esprit de corps" among health care personnel.

Health care practices that support environmental preservation also may enhance economic sustainability. The true economic impact of health care practices and products requires a life-cycle evaluation. Hospital managers need to understand the interconnectedness of resource production, use, and disposal. They also must begin to look beyond the traditional, unit-centered budget. Exploring ways to reduce, recycle, and reuse materials in the perioperative setting also will promote economic benefits to the health care organization.

Holistic care encourages nurses to understand the interactions between humans and their environment. As citizens of local and global communities, nurses should give voice to their holistic vision of personal and environmental health. The commonly used encouragement to "think globally, act locally" is an appropriate slogan to guide nurses in their efforts towards caring for the health of humans as well as the health of the world.