MIRT Medical Industry Waste Reduction Roundtable Dave Waddell Local HW Mgmt Program- King County

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 Original focus: Solid Waste Started meeting in 1999 Had 9 roundtable meetings Developed list of interested contacts Decided seminar format would be useful

MIRT Seminars 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 Four seminars in 2001 –Energy & Water Mgmt –Building Green Facilities –Mercury Reduction –Managing Chemicals, pt. 3 Half-day, 8:00 Maintain same location Promote discussion

MIRT Seminars 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 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