Northwest Regional Planning Commission

The Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NWRPC) is in the final stages of implemention of a Hospitals for a Healthy Environment program that provided hazardous wastes and materials audits, environmentally friendly purchasing counsel, collection of hazardous wastes, and the introduction of the concept of environmental management systems to nine hospitals in the NWRPC ten-county service area. The nine hospitals were: Memorial Medical Center, Ashland, WI, Burnett Medical Center, Grantsburg, WI, St. Marys Hospital of Superior, Superior, WI, Flambeau Hospital, Park Falls, WI, Rusk County Memorial Hospital, Ladysmith, WI, Hayward Area Memorial Hospital, Hayward, WI, Memorial Health Center, Medford, WI, Indianhead Medical Center, Shell Lake, WI, and Spooner Health System, Spooner, WI. NWRPC staff worked with Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) staff to investigate the potential for the hospitals to work on environmental management system development which may result in a lesser regulatory burden with the WDNR.

The intent of the Hospitals for Healthy Environment Initiative proposal was to develop a collaborative effort between the Northwest Regional Planning Commission (NWRPC) and the hospitals located within its ten-county service area to:

1) Host a meeting of all participants to discuss the goals and objectives of the program, and to describe the outcomes and benefits of the program. (education)

2) Perform hazardous waste management audits ensuring that all hazardous wastes are being dealt with in an environmentally safe manner, and to determine if the generation of such wastes can be eliminated or reduced. (research, source reduction, reduction of pollutants entering the waste stream).

3) Develop a pre-audit survey for maintenance and equipment staff at hospitals to fill out in order to determine what types of cleaners are presently being used, what types of equipment are in place and what types and amounts of hazardous wastes are presently being generated. This will allow a more site specific approach to take place and will help to avoid duplication in those facilities that may have already moved to some extent towards environmentally sound practices (research, survey as to existing levels of environmental activities).

4) Medical instrumentation - attempt to find instrumental or operational alternatives that generate fewer hazardous materials or do not rely on the use of persistent toxics. One obvious major area of concern is mercury and the medical instrumentation it is present in, however there are other areas that can be looked at including lead containing devices, non-biological lab chemicals, hospital cleaning materials, etc. Provide hospitals with environmentally preferable options and new technology options for such instrumentation. Consult with Mr. Randy Case of WDNR, who is an expert in this aspect and would be able to provide insights on what to look for and what substitutions might be available. (research, demonstrate new technologies, hazardous waste minimization, education),

5) Research the use of equipment at hospitals that relies on the use of mercury or other toxic materials aside from the usual medical instrumentation targeted (ex. blood pressure monitoring units). Examples might include thermostats, fluorescent lighting, battery usage, mercury switches in other heating equipment and in boiler room applications. Provide information and training as to less hazardous options, utilizing NWRPC staff as well as experts in the field (training, demonstrate new technologies, hazardous waste minimization, pollution prevention, education).

6) Provide for the collection of hazardous materials through the ten-county Northwest Cleansweep Hazardous Waste Collection program where requested and needed.

7) Work with and train hospital staff to research the use of less hazardous materials for activities such as cleaning and maintenance. Provide a list of available safe cleaning agents (research, training, source reduction, education).

8) Gauge interest in hospitals attempting to develop environmental management systems (EMS, ISO 14000). Provide information and education regarding implementation and design of such systems and the benefits that can be derived from their utilization. There are some regulatory benefits that might go along with developing such a plan under a program presently in place by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The Department provides a less burdensome regulatory approach to organizations that do an EMS so long as it is shown that all aspects of the system are in place and are being implemented. This is the case even if the hospital does not pursue official ISO 14000 certification (education - would provide an environment where all environmental impacts are investigated and dealt with, research areas where environmental impacts can be alleviated or lessened). This proposal would not cover the costs of designing or implementing an EMS, but would train appropriate personnel as to the benefits and creation of such a system.

Hospitals to participate in program: Memorial Medical Center, Ashland, WI, Burnett Medical Center, Grantsburg, WI, St. Marys Hospital of Superior, Superior, WI, Flambeau Hospital, Park Falls, WI, Rusk County Memorial Hospital, Ladysmith, WI, Hayward Area Memorial Hospital, Hayward, WI, Memorial Health Center, Medford, WI, Indianhead Medical Center, Shell Lake, WI, Spooner Health System, Spooner, WI.

The implamentation of this project will reduced operating costs - Elimination or reduction of hazardous waste generation provides for a reduction in costs for the disposal of hazardous wastes, as well as providing a safer working environment for hospital staff. It can also reduce the risk of costly spill measures in the event of a hazardous material/waste release. Audits can identify the source of hazardous materials/wastes that might be reduced or eliminated. Reduction/elimination can be measured in dollars per year and in pounds of hazardous wastes reduced. It is possible that the implementation of an EMS could mean a reduction of insurance costs for the hospital, although it is yet to be seen if such savings would be realized short of actual implementation. If so, the savings could be measured in dollars of insurance premiums saved.

Hazardous materials - Audits will identify where hazardous materials are used in instrumentation and equipment and how they might be replaced by less hazardous alternatives. Measurement can be done on how many hazardous materials elements are identified, and how many units will be replaced.

Hazardous wastes - When fewer hazardous materials are used in a facility, it stands to reason that fewer hazardous wastes will be generated. This reduction outcome can be measured by dollars per year in hazardous waste disposal costs and in the fewer number of pounds generated.

Water pollution - Through environmentally preferable purchasing habits, hospitals may be able to reduce the amount of point source pollution by using water-mixed chemicals for cleaning that are less toxic to sewer systems. No unit of measure. There is not sufficient evidence available at this time that could verify if alternative safe cleaning chemicals would be cheaper than those presently being used.

Replacement of instrumentation/equipment that utilizes hazardous materials with those that are environmentally safer. Measure by the number and types of units replaced.