New England Facilities Enhance Waste Management Efforts

A strategic partnership focusing on operating room (OR) hygiene produced sustainable results for New England healthcare facilities. Boston-based New England Baptist Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center strengthened their waste management operations through Caracal Products & Services’ OR Recycling Program. The color-coded system safely disposes of non-biohazardous plastics, paper products, and other materials, enhancing waste diversion efforts and reducing workflow contamination concerns.

“Every year, hospitals send enormous amounts of recyclable materials to landfills simply because the right systems and partnerships aren’t in place,” says Paul Sessions, Vice President and General Manager of Caracal Recycling. “Our program enables hospitals and surgical centers to participate in a circular economy, diverting waste from landfills and transforming it into new products.”

A critical challenge in the commercial cleaning industry is waste diversion, as it impacts operational costs, regulatory compliance, and environmental initiatives. Hospitals produce over 5 million tons of waste annually, 85 percent of which is non-hazardous. Environmental services (EVS) are tasked with organizing safe systems that reduce waste volumes, lower disposal costs, and maintain operational goals.

One of the concerns Executive Director, Climate & Sustainability, of Beth Israel Lahey Health, Avery Palardy, sought to target was the waste produced in ORs. Before medical professionals and patients enter the environment, packaging and plastic waste are produced. After the first few weeks of Caracal’s recycling program, both healthcare facilities diverted more than 5,000 pounds of material.

“We’re proud to help hospitals improve their environmental impact metrics while fostering a commitment to responsible, forward-thinking care,” shares Sessions.

Learn more about the long-term benefits of scalable waste management programs here.