The healthcare industry is a cornerstone of our society, but its environmental impact, particularly from new construction and renovations, has historically not been fully addressed. As hospitals, clinics, and medical office buildings grow and evolve, they generate a significant amount of construction and demolition (C&D) waste. This waste poses unique challenges that can be mitigated by specialty healthcare equipment distributors. Yep, that’s right, healthcare equipment distributors.
In this post we will answer the questions:
While general C&D waste like concrete, wood, metal, and drywall are major contributors, healthcare projects also generate specific waste streams:
Yes, the problem of C&D waste in healthcare extends beyond logistics. Improper disposal has serious environmental and regulatory consequences:
Fortunately, there are strategies that can help healthcare organizations tackle these issues head-on. A successful approach often starts with a comprehensive waste management plan from a project's inception.
Sustainable Building Practices: Adopt lean construction principles to minimize waste through careful planning, just-in-time delivery, and prefabrication of components off-site. This can reduce on-site waste and improve efficiency.
Recycling and Reuse Programs: Implement a robust on-site waste segregation system to separate recyclable materials like metal, wood, cardboard, and concrete. Partner with specialized vendors to ensure these materials are properly recycled or repurposed. Deconstruction, a process of carefully disassembling a building to salvage materials, is a prime example of a reuse strategy that can significantly reduce waste.
Green Procurement and Vendor Partnerships: Work with distributors, like CME Corp., who share a commitment to sustainability. This includes purchasing products with minimal and recyclable packaging and working with suppliers who have take-back or recycling programs for their products.
Training and Accountability: Educate all project stakeholders - from architects and contractors to on-site workers - about the importance of proper waste management. Training on waste segregation and disposal protocols is essential for a successful program.
CME has been working to decrease the amount of waste generated at a construction site for years. Not only is it important from a green perspective but decreasing waste at a construction site also helps the builders streamline activities at the site and realize on-time construction schedules.
When CME delivers new equipment for a typical clinic construction project, they also process the significant amount of waste that comes with it. A project with 40 exam rooms can generate roughly 2,100 pounds of cardboard, 4,000 pounds of pallets, and 400 pounds of other packing materials.
CME's direct-to-site delivery services help significantly reduce construction site waste. Before the equipment even reaches the site, CME removes most of the packing materials at their warehouses. This practice allows about 95% of these materials to be recycled.
As CME's CEO Normand Chevrette puts it, "CME is dedicated to working toward a virtual cardboard-free delivery. It helps the environment as well as keeping the construction site clean and efficient." When CME trucks arrive at the site most of the equipment is already assembled and can be wheeled directly into the service locations, ready for use. Delicate equipment or equipment with multiple parts that need to stay together is kept in the original packaging, but this is a small percentage of the medical equipment delivered.
CME works with manufacturers to reduce and improve the packing materials used. We have facilitated the increased use of recyclable materials used to 95%, up from 80% five years ago. Manufacturing partners are also encouraged to ship products blanket-wrapped instead of boxed and palletized. While this may not be the cheapest shipping method, it is the most environmentally friendly.
For example, CME's collaboration with Pedigo, a medical equipment manufacturer, has resulted in products like procedure and linen carts shipping blanket wrapped. Intentional conversations about shipping materials can significantly reduce the amount of waste arriving on a construction site.
Disposing of waste is not just about new equipment. Many healthcare projects involve renovating existing spaces, which means there's old equipment that needs to be removed. To best manage this type of construction waste, consider partnering with a company that can help you with your decommissioned equipment. These specialized firms assist you in donating, recycling, or refurbishing your old assets.
The healthcare industry is dedicated to healing and well-being. By extending this mission to include the health of our planet, healthcare organizations can become leaders in sustainability. Prioritizing effective construction waste management is not only a moral imperative but also a smart business decision that can lead to cost savings, positive brand reputation, and a healthier future for all.
About CME: CME Corp is the nation’s premier source for healthcare equipment, turnkey logistics, and biomedical services, representing 2 million+ products from more than 2,000 manufacturers. With two corporate offices and 35+ service centers, our mission is to help healthcare facilities nationwide reduce the cost of the equipment they purchase, make their equipment specification, delivery, installation, and maintenance processes more efficient, and help them seamlessly launch, renovate and expand on schedule.