Recycling of Renewable Resources in Extra corporeal Circulation Technology

This project evaluated the cost effectiveness and feasibility for recycling of renewable resources and disposing of non-recyclable materials generated in the perfusion department of an open heart surgery program. Forty-one adult and pediatric open heart cases were randomly assigned to participate as the control or the recycling group. The control group had no separation of materials. In the recycling group, packaging materials such as glass bottles, corrugated cardboard, and plastics were recycled, providing there was no contamination with blood or body fluids. Non-infectious waste was also separated from infectious waste. The recycled bags, the non-infectious waste bags, and the infectious waste bags were weighed to the nearest one-half pound. The type, weight, and number of bags were recorded. The results from the two groups were analyzed using a one sided Student's t-test. A p value< 0.05 was considered significant. The results indicated that recycling and proper separating of waste significantly decreased the amount of waste discarded as "contaminated". Because contaminated or infectious waste costs $5.60 per red bag and non-infectious waste costs $0.02 per pound, decreasing both forms of waste is economically attractive to hospitals. The perfusionist can decrease the amount of waste products generated in the operating room that must be either incinerated or disposed of in landfill. Recycling and proper separation of waste significantly decreased the expenditure for waste disposal, and decreased the impact of perfusion services on our environment. Volume 27, Number 2, june 1995 Address all correspondence to: Lisa M. Bliss, RN, BS 68215 Estio Road Cathedral City, CA 92234