Introduction: The “Green ICU” concept has gained attention due to the high environmental impact of intensive care units (ICUs), which are hotspots for CO2 emissions. At our institution, the ICU produces around 47 tons of waste annually, costing 91, 000 in disposal fees and generating an estimated 47 tons of CO2 emissions. While proper segregation and recycling of materials such as plastics are critical, concerns over infection control and staff safety often lead to inappropriate disposal of non-infectious waste as infectious. This study evaluated whether educational interventions could reduce the amount of plastic waste discarded as infectious waste. Methods: We conducted a prospective intervention as quality improvement project in a 30-bed ICU divided into two sections over a one-month period in June 2025. The intervention involved educating staff on the Green ICU concept and appropriate waste segregation practices. The primary outcome was the proportion of plastic waste within the infectious waste stream. Random samples of infectious waste were opened and sorted by three board-certified critical care doctor before and after the intervention. Proportions were compared using the Z-test for two population proportions. An AI tool was utilized for translation and editing. Results: Prior to the intervention, 3, 843 g (28%) of plastic waste was identified within 13, 631 g of infectious waste. After the intervention, plastic waste decreased significantly to 3, 013 g (9%) out of 34, 481 g of infectious waste (P < 0. 01). The proportion of waste incorrectly categorized as infectious also declined from 32% to 10% (P < 0. 01). A comparison between the two ICU sections post-intervention revealed a significant difference in plastic waste proportions (2% vs. 18%), with the section showing lower waste actively continuing awareness activities among nursing staff. The intervention is estimated to potentially reduce annual waste disposal costs by approximately 12, 000 (representing 13% of the ICU’s waste management costs). Conclusions: Education on waste segregation within the Green ICU framework reduced plastic waste improperly disposed of as infectious waste by 19%. This initiative offers environmental and financial benefits and underscores the value of staff-driven sustainability efforts in healthcare
Naito et al. (Sun,) studied this question.