What is H₂E?
H₂E, also known as Hospitals for a Healthy Environment, was jointly founded by:

• The American Hospital Association(AHA)
• The American Nurses Association(ANA)
• Health Care Without Harm
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA)

The main purpose is to help health care facilities reduce their environmental impact while saving money and reducing liabilities.

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Hospital Waste
Not all medical waste is hazardous.

• 89% of hospital waste is solid waste (trash)
• 10 to 15% of hosptial waste is biohazard waste(sharps, red bag waste)
• 5% or less is hazardous waste (chemicals, solvents, mercury)

Research shows that institutions that reduced the volume of regulated waste saved 40-70% on waste disposal.
Common hazardous materials found in healthcare facilitied include:

• Mercury
• Pharmaceuticals
• Radiologicals
• Sterilants
• Disinfectants
• Cleaning chemicals
• Laboratory chemicals
• Pesticides

Common hazardous waste found in healthcare facilitied include:

• Fluorescent light bulbs
• Batteries
• Acids
• Alcohols
• Painting supplies

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PVC problems
PVC or vinyl plastic is the most widely used plastic in medical devices. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, produces dioxin (a known human carcinogen) when manufactured or incinerated as chlorinated plastics. DHEP, a phylate used to soften PVC plastic, can leech from medical devices and is linked to reproductive birth defects and other illnesses.

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More Info
For more information please visit the H₂E website at: http://www.h2e-online.org/