WASTE-OR

Each operating room has the potential to produce up to 2300 kg of waste per year. Operating rooms were found to be up to 6 times more energy-consuming than other hospital departments, due to heating, air-conditioning, lighting, 24-hour activities and several by-products (biological, chemical, sharp and non-hazardous/general waste). However, up to 90% of the by-products and waste produced in the operating rooms are considered hazardous by default, are misclassified as biological and thus incinerated.

WASTE-OR is a set of guidelines to reduce the carbon footprint in operating rooms. It will promote the reuse of materials, the rethinking of strategies and regulations to reduce the volumes of waste and the reduction of waste. WASTE-OR will include guidelines and operational models for waste management (including disposables, drugs and surgical instruments), a tool to label products according to their recyclability and to identify reusable medical devices, a training package for nurses, surgeons and anesthesiologists as well as a knowledge base.