The first-of-its-kind disposal method allows for safe disposal of PVC materials
Three Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) fourth-year students at College of the Rockies have developed an innovative sustainability initiative aimed at reducing medical plastic waste in perioperative units, specifically focusing on PVC plastics like IV bags, oxygen masks, and tubing.
Students Aman Sidhu, Brooklyn Rauser, and Kelsie Lussier worked in collaboration with their field guide AJ Brekke, Perioperative Units Manager at East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) as part of their leadership practicum.
Presenting their project, which they titled Eco-Scalpel: Cutting Waste in Perioperative Units, at the annual BSN Leadership Conference at the College they shared that their research found operating rooms are significant contributors to healthcare waste, with millions of dollars spent on waste management every year. EKRH alone uses over 53,000 IV bags in their perioperative units which creates over 5,300 kilograms of waste each month. The Eco-Scalpel initiative seeks to address this issue by diverting used medical plastics from landfills and promoting recycling in the perioperative setting.
“The project, which is first of its kind in Canada, began with a detailed exploration of sustainability efforts within Interior Health and the broader healthcare sector, identifying key areas where waste could be reduced,” said Lussier. “Our team prioritized PVC plastics, which are widely used in medical procedures and which, once recycled, will be repurposed into construction material for roads or made into composite siding.”
Working alongside Daniels Healthcare, Vitacore, and EKRH’s Environmental Sustainability Committee, students introduced custom collection bins for the safe transport and recycling of PVC plastics, which will then be processed in a specialized facility in Abbotsford, BC. This process minimizes both environmental impact and health risks associated with traditional waste disposal methods.
East Kootenay Regional Hospital is the first healthcare facility to adopt Eco-Scalpel and has witnessed collaboration across various departments, including Perioperative Care, Logistics, and Environmental Services as a result. Sidhu, Rauser, and Lussier have also received positive feedback from nurses eager to participate.
Though initial financial investments were required, the initiative is expected to generate long-term savings by reducing waste disposal costs for the hospital.
Brekke, impressed with the students’ initiative, is determined to see the project continue.
“As future health care professionals, these ladies are already conscious of the daily waste that is produced and they want to help reduce our impact on our planet,” Brekke said. “I think this project has helped showcase the impact nurses as leaders can have in the overall system and the changes that can be made. It’s never too small of an idea to make an impactful change. I’m very proud to have worked with these ladies and have made a commitment to help see this project through after their semester is over.”
Stacey Byram, co-chair of EKRH’s Environmental Sustainability team noted, “it can be intimidating coming into a large organization, especially as students. It would be easy to assume the organization has thought of everything. These ladies decided to challenge that notion and look for ‘the better’ option and found it! I hope that every student who enters the workforce follows their lead and continuously challenges the status quo and keep exploring new ideas.”
The Eco-Scalpel project aims to reduce PVC waste by 50 per cent by the end of 2025 and to expand across EKRH and potentially to other healthcare facilities.
“This project serves as a model for sustainability in healthcare, demonstrating that with proper planning and collaboration, healthcare systems can adopt environmentally responsible practices while maintaining high standards of patient care,” Lussier added.
Learn more about the BSN program at College of the Rockies: cotr.ca/health
About College of the Rockies
For nearly 50 years, College of the Rockies has provided post-secondary education that meets the needs and aspirations of the people, industries, and businesses of our region. All our campuses are located on the traditional territory of the Ktunaxa people, which is also home to the Kinbasket people. We value our relationships with the four Ktunaxa bands, the Shuswap band, and the Kootenay Regional Office of the Métis Nation, BC. Each year, thousands of full-time and part-time students join us in a full range of programs, including skilled trades, university arts and sciences, adult upgrading, early childhood education, health and human services, business, office administration, tourism, hospitality, recreation, fire services, continuing education, and contract training. Through smaller class sizes, highly personalized instruction and dedicated support services, our students are primed to succeed in the job market, or in the next stage of their academic journey.
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