The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) recently helped a medical center reduce hazardous waste and achieve cost savings by identifying an effective, non-toxic alternative to a product used in the business.
In medical care, soda lime products are used to prevent toxic buildup of carbon dioxide with general anesthesia use. Because the byproducts are hazardous waste, they require special management and incur disposal costs.
As part of the regular pollution prevention (P2) plan review process for the medical center, Ecology identified a switch that helps the business reduce an average of 2,954 pounds of hazardous waste annually while cutting disposal costs.
P2 plans submitted to Ecology describe opportunities to eliminate or reduce hazardous waste. The process is geared toward achieving environmental, financial, and work safety benefits. When businesses generate less than 2,640 pounds annually, they are no longer required to submit P2 plans.
