Is EPA involved in any pollution prevention activities within the health care industry?
One June 24, 1998, the EPA entered into a voluntary partnership with the Hospitals for a Healthy Environment and its member hospitals to: • Virtually eliminate mercury waste generated by hospitals by 2005; • Reduce overall hospital waste volume by 33 percent by 2005 and 50 percent by 2010; and, • Jointly identify additional substances to target for pollution prevention and waste reduction opportunities. A number of workgroups have been convened to help achieve these goals, including, but are not limited to: • Baseline Data Collection; • Model Mercury Virtual Elimination Plan; • Model Comprehensive Waste Reduction Plan; • Education Seminars; • Awards Program; and • Clearinghouse of Best Practices and Service Providers.