meeting with Tess

Meeting Updates and Overview

  • Purpose of Inquiry: The speaker seeks an update on developments from August to the present, emphasizing a lack of knowledge regarding events and issues discussed in meetings.

    • Focus on Waste Management: The inquiry prominently highlights the topic of waste management processes and developments.

Meeting Structure

  • Planned Monthly Meetings: Initially, regular meetings were scheduled every month.

    • Meeting Attendance Issues:

    • Only one meeting occurred due to scheduling conflicts:

      • First Meeting: Conducted with participation from various departments including IPAC, infection control, occupational team, health and safety, and physicians.

      • Second Meeting: Canceled due to OPR (Operational Project Review) commitments.

      • Third Meeting: Initially scheduled for January but postponed due to holiday absences.

    • Next meeting is planned for the upcoming month.

Discussions in First Meeting

  • Participants’ Enthusiasm: Participants were very engaged and expressed excitement about initiatives.

  • Introductions: A primary focus was on introducing available resources and support through the working team for facility projects and educational sessions.

  • Sustainability Initiatives:

    • Microfiber Mops: Discussion on replacing disposable wipes with microfiber cloths, recognized as cost-effective and environmentally friendly, though initial investment costs for purchasing mops and maintaining laundry cycles must be considered.

    • Financial Consideration: Estimated potential savings of around $3,000 weekly by switching from disposable wipes.

    • Challenges with Laundry: Loss of mops during the laundry process due to central laundry services servicing multiple hospitals.

    • Reusable Mugs: Proposal from a supervisor to implement reusable mugs for staff coffee, significantly reducing the number of disposable cups used.

  • Future Discussion Points: Ideas from participants were encouraged, laying groundwork for future initiatives.

Upcoming Second Meeting Agenda

  • Agenda Development: Necessity for an organized agenda for the second meeting to ensure discussions are productive.

    • Topics to include ongoing education sessions and interest from participants.

  • Collaboration on Agenda Creation: Assistance offered to support PowerPoint slides summarizing discussion points.

Waste Management Specifics

  • Cardboard Waste Tracking:

    • Concerns about Data Management: Noted discrepancies in cardboard pickup records due to incomplete monthly reporting by waste management services.

  • Organic Waste Management:

    • Current setup includes one organics bin located in the cafeteria, with the possibility of increasing capacity being discussed.

    • Frequency of Collection: Clarification that organic waste is collected only three times a week.

  • Electronic Waste:

    • Inquiry about volume produced and the specifics of electronic waste pickup logistics.

    • Acknowledgment of limited outside bin for electronic waste collection.

Sustainability Goals for 2026

  • Reduced Waste Objectives: Expressed aims to reduce disposable product usage, focusing on:

    • Reusable Items: Encouraging the use of real plates rather than paper or plastic disposables in the cafeteria.

    • Workshops and Education: Plan to organize educational sessions to raise awareness regarding reducing waste among staff.

Garbage Bin Strategies

  • Public Space Waste Management:

    • Improvements have been made to garbage and recycling bin infrastructure.

    • New bins are more visually appealing and provide additional recycling options.

  • Education Efforts: A strong emphasis on educating both staff and visitors about proper disposal methods.

    • Noted public difficulties with proper waste sorting; education strategies must target visitor behaviors.

Waste Sorting Education Initiatives

  • In-Situ Educational Sessions: Previous educational events conducted to help differentiate waste types—serving as practical demonstrations for proper sorting behaviors.

  • Future Plans: Continuous education initiatives to promote better waste management practices, especially for visitors.

Current Projects: Waste Hub Initiative

  • Waste Stream Documentation: Goals for documenting waste streams, confirming all categories:

    • Categories Include:

    • Garbage

    • Organics

    • Cardboard

    • Blue bags

    • Paper

    • Biomedical sharps

    • Biomedical non-anatomical

    • Cytotoxic waste

    • Pharmaceuticals

Information Gathering and Data Evaluation

  • Vendor Communication: Reaching out to accounts payable to gather historical waste management numbers and invoices is crucial for assessing waste production and expenditures.

    • Ensuring accuracy in expense tracking and waste generation is an essential step in waste management auditing.

Logistics of Waste Compacting

  • Compactors Overview:

    • Distinct compartments for different waste types:

    • One for garbage.

    • One that splits for cardboard and recycling streams.

    • Separate compactors for specific recyclables (paper, plastics).

  • Future Coordination and Meetings: Importance placed on ongoing communication with team members about upcoming meetings to discuss operational efficiency and waste management practices.