MOB - Recycling Calculations

Lauren,

This can vary depending on location and ownership/ management of the MOB. Is the management separate or incorporated into a hospital? Do you have any higher producing waste activities like an outpatient surgery center?

I dug into the California waste site referenced in the NC boards. They are listing 1.5 tons/employee/year with a waste density of 75 pounds per cubic yard. Compare it to what they are reporting for professional offices at 1.2 tons/employee/year with a waste density of 104 pound/cubic yard. That is not a stat that means much.

Generically, for a regular doc in a box solution office, align it to what you would do in your own office and add some space for additional waste streams like sharps. Tell us a little more about what is in your building and we can help you pencil in some more.

To pick this thread back up, I find myself in the same situation of attempting to estimate the waste for a Healthcare project. For BD+C projects we have utilized the California Waste Disposal Rates but as previously mentioned they just don't have a building type for a hospital.

Our project is an addition to an existing hospital. The scope contains no surgery but several infusion and treatment areas. There are patient beds, medical teaching areas (classrooms and labs), exam rooms, auditorium, and a dining room. (food service areas are adjacent and not part of the scope)

Would you recommend breaking down those areas and determining the waste streams by function?

This is another situation where you have to talk with the waste management or material management people and not the facility department. If the hospital has a sustainability person, that would be the best person to contact. They will know all about the waste generation in their facility.

Once you're talking to the right person, you need to ask them how their waste haulers are scheduled. Often, they just have their trailers pulled more frequently. You need to describe the process, where things are collected and how they monitor and track the different waste streams.

Thank you Susan for the quick reply! We have the data from the waste management people on the facility so we are good there. I guess it just feels odd not having a standard to base the estimates on as we did in BD+C projects.

Thanks for your comments.

I know! But these facilities approach waste management in a different way than schools or offices. They are already financially motivated to save money by managing the different waste streams.