Emory University
IN-2: Innovation 2

Emory University has been recognized nationally for its comprehensive on-campus recycling program, which collects everything from aluminum cans and electronics to used furniture and diverts it from Georgia landfills. The most recent and ground-breaking addition to these efforts are the collective initiatives to improve recycling within Emory's Woodruff Health Sciences Center. Recycling in the healthcare industry is still a rare phenomenon, often complicated by obstacles associated with handling hazardous waste and a unique clinic/research/office environment. Emory Healthcare has been helping to set an example for sustainability in the healthcare sector by building LEED certified healthcare facilities and hosting a Greening Healthcare conference during the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years. The following recycling and re-use programs have been a innovative addition to these efforts and a vital piece in helping Emory reach its ambitious waste reduction goal (65% reduction by 2015 from 2005 levels) and have contributed to the sustainability of communities with lower socio-economic standing in the United States and around the globe.

Emory-sponsored MedShare International is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the environment and healthcare through the efficient recovery and redistribution of surplus medical supplies and equipment to under-served healthcare facilities in developing countries. One Saturday each month, Emory Healthcare employees sort medical supplies and prepare them for shipment to countries where they are desperately needed. Recently, the MedShare/Emory partnership helped divert a great deal of medical equipment from the landfill during the Rollins School of Public Health move from their old building into the new Claudia Nance Rollins Building.

Syringe-Sharps Recycling Program:
Traditionally, when needles and other used "sharps," classified as Class II Medical Devises by the FDA, are disposed of in biohazard containers, both the sharps and containers have ended up in landfills. However, Emory recently partnered with Stericycle to reuse these containers. The program not only meets regulatory requirements, but also helps prevent accidental needle sticks, reduces Emory's landfill footprint, and saves tens of thousands of dollars each year. The needle containers are picked up two to five times a week, depending on volume, by Stericycle, sterilizes and repackaged for reuse.

In addition to improving safety, the sharps management system saves money by decreasing Emory's biohazard trash. Currently the program is operational at Emory’s Wesley Woods Center, Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown* and Emory University Orthopaedic & Spine Hospital*. The program is generating roughly a 20% reduction in hazardous or “red bag” waste and as of July 2010, has kept an estimated 18,294 lbs of plastic and 883 lbs of cardboard from the landfill. In a comparison between April, May, June 2009 and April, May, June 2010 volumes, the program has resulted in a 31% reduction in the number of medical waste sharps containers collected per month, a 26% reduction in medical waste pounds collected per month, and a 24% reduction in medical waste cost per month.

*These locations are not included in Emory’s contiguous campus boundary as defined in STARS.

Reusable sterile surgical gowns and towels: These products from the SRI Corporation are in place at Emory University Hospital and are expanding to other surgery locations as well. To date, over 3 million pounds of waste has been diverted from landfills from the surgical gown reuse program. It has also saved Emory Healthcare roughly $300,000 annually.