Managing waste in a healthcare facility can be challenging yet immensely rewarding. It demands consistent attention, staff engagement, and the habit-building that ensures your program becomes part of the daily routine.
Standard practices like standardizing your program, adding more recycling stations, and reducing contamination are often discussed in recycling circles as the key to higher diversion rates and lower costs. However, executing these well involves many moving parts—so it’s why you were brought on board!
At Busch Systems we have curated a list of nine free resources that will help you design and implement an efficient & effective recycling and waste-management program at your healthcare facility.
1. 5 Ways Hospitals can Launch Effective Recycling Programs for Single-use Products
Single-use items are a major focus in healthcare waste management. Hospitals generate millions of tons of waste annually, much of which is single-use. This article from GreenBiz outlines five actionable strategies for tackling single-use waste—and turning it into a real opportunity for your program.
2. Practice Greenhealth Case Studies
Practice Greenhealth is a respected membership-based organization offering resources and networking opportunities for hospitals and other healthcare organizations that aim to shrink their environmental footprint. While many of their tools are for members, they also provide a number of free case studies showcasing:
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general waste reduction initiatives
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operating-room-specific programs
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other helpful toolkits, such as how-to guides and cost-calculator tools for comparing single-use vs reusable supplies.
3. Develop and/or Enhance the Facility’s Recycling Program [Workbook]
This workbook—created by the American Hospital Association (AHA)—provides a step-by-step framework for developing or improving a fiscally sound recycling program. The goal: integrate recycling across all departments, boost regulatory compliance, reduce waste volumes, and offset emissions associated with solid-waste disposal. A great structured tool.
4. HPRC – Stanford University Recycling Pilot Study
An in-depth report produced by Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) and Stanford Hospital & Clinics, this study dives into each stage of implementing a full recycling program for single-use items and packaging. It covers critical practices: packaging research, waste audits, collection-tracking, cost-savings metrics, and more.
5. Hospitals Save Millions with Sustainability Programs, Cut Back on Waste
This insightful article from Healthcare Finance News ties sustainability efforts in hospitals to real financial outcomes. It’s a useful piece to present when you’re preparing to engage your CFO—or making the business case for recycling and waste management.
6. Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care’s “Reducing PPE and Medical Single-Use Plastic Waste” Project
The Canadian Coalition for Green Health Care was launched in 2000 as a partnership among healthcare associations and environmental groups. Their most recent initiative is a government-funded project that tackles PPE and single-use plastic waste via circular-economy principles. They’ve also offered webinars and a member Google Group for healthcare professionals engaging in this challenge.
7. Healthcare Plastics Recycling: “Making It Happen at Your Hospital” [Guide]
This practical guide from HPRC is tailored for facility managers tasked with implementing a strong waste-management program in healthcare. The focus is on plastic recycling—especially single-use plastics—and it provides clear, useful tools for collecting and recycling large volumes of plastic items in a hospital context.
8. Are Disposable Hospital Supplies Trashing the Environment?
This article, published by Healthy Debate and penned by Wendy Glauser, Jeremy Petch & Sachin Pendharkar, offers a thoughtful discussion on the environmental cost of disposable supplies in healthcare facilities. It’s a good read for framing the mindset shift around single-use items.
9. Waste Not: Developing a Hospital Recycling Program
Authored by Bill Turpin and Dr. Linda D. Lee of WM Healthcare Solutions and published in Healthcare Facilities Management Magazine, this article outlines the essential steps a healthcare facility must take to elevate its recycling and waste-collection program.
And that’s a solid starting point! Plenty of free, high-quality resources to jump into. We’ll continue to update this list as new material surfaces—and if you’ve got any additional resources you think we should include, feel free to let us know.
For more information on how to build an exceptional recycling program for your healthcare facility, click here (this link will take you back to our detailed guide).
For more information on how to build an exceptional recycling program for your healthcare facility, click here.
Key Takeaways (TL;DR)
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Healthcare facilities produce massive amounts of waste, much of it single-use—making structured recycling and waste-reduction programs essential.
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Start with proven resources: The article highlights 9 trusted guides, studies, and toolkits from organizations like Practice Greenhealth, HPRC, and the American Hospital Association.
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Learn from real examples: Case studies and pilot programs (e.g., Stanford’s plastics recycling initiative) showcase practical strategies that actually work in hospitals.
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Make the business case: Sustainability programs don’t just help the planet—they also reduce costs and improve operational efficiency.
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Focus on single-use items and PPE: Several featured resources tackle the unique challenges of reducing and recycling medical plastics safely.
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Collaboration is key: Success depends on staff engagement, consistent communication, and leadership support across departments.
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Stay informed: The healthcare sustainability space is evolving—new projects and research continue to emerge, so revisit and refresh your program regularly.
