July 15, 2022
In the healthcare industry, single-use plastic is a significant waste source. These objects are discarded after usage, resulting in waste and pollution. Unfortunately, given the nature of the healthcare industry, plastics have emerged as one of the few adaptable materials capable of keeping up with its rapid change and providing advantages including sterility, quality, durability, and safety.
Nevertheless, despite the many advantages, single-use plastics and packaging in healthcare also have unanticipated environmental effects, specifically the waste they produce.
This outbreak has made it clearer than ever before how much our healthcare industry relies on single-use plastic. According to NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism, and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres, hospitals are thought to produce 52,400 tonnes of waste annually, the disposal of which costs the NSW Government at least $16 million.
About one-third of a hospital's general waste is plastic and less than 10% of plastic is recycled.
The emphasis on plastic waste should be on finding ways to cut down on needless plastic. The healthcare sector should collaborate with the recycling sector to develop the technologies needed to recycle healthcare plastics in cases where this is not practicable.
It is crucial to keep in mind that, at the moment, deciding to recycle medical plastics can necessitate a direct financial subsidy. Medical facilities, for instance, will either need to sort their plastic waste themselves or hire someone else to do it. In any case, resources will be needed. However, in the long run, the environmental advantages ought to offset this early expenditure.
