Page 2290 - Documents for the COPC of BS Nursing Program

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
CAGAYAN STATE UNIVERSITY
www.csu.edu.ph
COLLEGE OF NURSING

Waste minimization is the practice of reducing, reusing, and recycling of materials as much as
possible to lessen the need of procuring more waste as well as lessen the need of purchasing or

acquiring more materials, though it is inevitable that most of the wastes generated by health care
facilities will end up being disposed. Methods of waste minimization incorporated for health care

facilities is as follows:

a. Reduction at source

Reduction of waste is simply eliminating materials that are no longer needed or

gives little function to the facility and finding sustainable alternatives to materials currently
used by the facility. Example is using of digital thermometers instead of mercury

thermometers, implementing paperless communication system to the facility if deemed
possible, and replacing toxic or hazardous materials in the facility with non-toxic or non-

hazardous ones.
b. Re-use

Re-use of materials may be opting for products which could be re-used for other

activities, provided that proper disinfection and sterilization procedure should be
frequently practiced, rather than choosing for disposable products for as much as possible.

This method shall not be implied for activities that requires use of disposable products,
such as vaccination programs that uses disposable syringes and laboratory test requiring

sampling materials that are intended for single use only.
c. Recycling

Recycling is collection and reprocessing of waste into another product. Items such as

organics, plastics, paper, glass, and metal can be recycled easily. Composting of
biodegradable materials are also encouraged as much as possible.

3.2 Waste Segregation