What question did this study set out to answer?

The project aimed to reduce the volume and costs of regulated medical waste at Akron City Hospital through targeted interventions in various departments.

March 3, 2026Open Access

Expanding Waste Segregation Initiatives to Reduce Regulated Medical Waste: A Multi-Departmental Quality Improvement Project

Key Points

The project aimed to reduce the volume and costs of regulated medical waste at Akron City Hospital through targeted interventions in various departments.
Conducted periodic analyses of RMW volume, pick-up frequency, and disposal costs.
Implemented department-specific strategies starting from ORs in October 2022, then expanded to ICUs and OBGYN by February 2024.
Educated staff and adjusted waste container availability and size.
Analyzed monthly data from January 2022 to June 2024 using t-tests and ARIMA models for forecasting.
Total RMW weights decreased from 56,366 lbs in 2022 to 45,148 lbs in 2023 and 37,017 lbs in early 2024 (P < .001).
Variability in RMW reduced with standard deviation decreasing from 6,177 lbs (2022) to 4,062 lbs (2023).
RMW disposal costs dropped from $175,189.51 (2022) to $140,321.18 (2023) and $57,528.17 (6-month cost, 2024).
Forecasting indicated stable monthly weights, confirming consistency post-intervention.

Abstract

Background Regulated medical waste (RMW) drives up health care costs, largely due to misclassification of general waste, especially in operating rooms (ORs), intensive care units (ICUs), and obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) departments. This study aimed to reduce RMW volume and costs at Akron City Hospital (ACH) through department-specific interventions aligning with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Ohio Environmental Protection Agency guidelines. Methods Periodic analyses compared hospital-wide aggregate RMW volume, pick-up frequency, and disposal costs before and after interventions. The ORs initiated interventions in October 2022, expanding to ICUs and OBGYN by February 2024. Strategies included staff education, flyers on red bag receptacles, and adjustments to container availability and size. Monthly data (January 2022 to June 2024) were analyzed using two-tailed heteroscedastic t-tests. Subsequently, an autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model was used to forecast monthly weights from July to December 2024. Results Monthly total RMW weights at ACH dropped from 56 366 lbs in 2022 to 45 148 lbs in 2023 and 37 017 lbs in early 2024 (P <. 001). Variability declined, with standard deviation (SD) decreasing from 6177 lbs (2022) to 4062 lbs (2023) and a small increase in variability in early 2024 (SD increased from 4062 to 4366 lbs, non-significant). Seasonal reductions were sustained across quarters. Corresponding RMW disposal costs decreased from 175 189. 51 (2022) to 140 321. 18 (2023) and 57 528. 17 (6-month cost, 2024). Time series predictive analytics indicated stable monthly weights, and anomaly detection confirmed improved consistency post-intervention. Conclusion Department-specific interventions significantly reduced RMW volume and costs while enhancing sustainability. Tailored education and operational adjustments offer a scalable model for sustainable waste management in health care, addressing both financial and environmental challenges.

Expanding Waste Segregation Initiatives to Reduce Regulated Medical Waste: A Multi-Departmental Quality Improvement Project

Key Points

Abstract

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