Abstract
Healthcare systems threaten global sustainability goals as one of the fastest-growing waste streams. Yet the issue remains underacknowledged and poorly managed, often justified by the claim that environmental responsibility cannot come at the expense of patient safety. COVID-19 normalized disposability as a marker of safety, while exposing the existing infrastructure’s inability to manage the growing waste burden. Current practices remain largely outdated, locked in a linear “take-make-waste” model, resulting in mismanaged resources, greenhouse gas emissions from incineration, and landfill dependency. Transitioning toward a circular economy – emphasizing reduction, reuse, recycling, and recovery – offers a more resilient path forward. Using a review of global healthcare practices and waste management policies, this study critically examines the systemic drivers that perpetuate linear waste practices. Key barriers include gaps in knowledge, financial and technological constraints, regulatory frameworks favoring disposables, and insufficient collaboration between healthcare facilities and waste management industries. Reframing waste management as integral to healthcare sustainability demands systematic changes. Confronting healthcare’s hidden unsustainability is vital to aligning patient care with broader responsibilities to society and the planet.
Presenters
Monica NguyenStudent, Master's Biohazards and Infectious Disease, Georgetown University, DC, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2026 Special Focus—Unseen Unsustainability: Addressing Hidden Risks to Long-Term Wellbeing for All
KEYWORDS
Healthcare Waste, Sustainability, Linear Economy, Circular Economy, Environmental Impacts
