A green light is slowly dawning in the nation’s hospitals.

In the first survey of its kind, the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C. non-profit organization, profiled waste management practices of 50 of the country’s top hospitals, as rated by U.S. News and World Reports in 1997. Included were many of the nation’s largest tertiary care centers.

The good news is, almost all the hospitals recycle some materials; the mean number of recycled items was 12. Eighty-eight percent recycle white paper, 84% recycle mixed paper, and 82% corrugated cardboard. But less than half recycle newspapers, magazines, boxboard, and junk mail. At an average medical center, these categories contribute tons of paper to the waste-stream each year.

While 52% of the hospitals recycle aluminum, only 44% recycle glass, and 28% recycle steel cans and containers. In the chemicals category, 76% recycle silver from x-ray films and solutions, 56% recycle xylene, 56% nickel-cadmium batteries, and 48% alkaline batteries.

On the plastics front, surveyed hospitals did poorly. Only 18% recycle mixed plastics; the numbers drop to single-digits for specific plastic subtypes. Ten of the 50 facilities said they had policies to reduce dioxin-generating PVCs, but 94% still use PVC IV bags.

Eighty percent reported having mercury elimination programs. But 48% still purchased new mercury thermometers and 54% purchased new mercury sphygmomanometers. On the positive side, only 14 (28%) still use mercury-containing endotracheal tubes and esophageal dilators.

Autoclaving is gaining as a way of treating infectious waste: 32% of the hospitals have onsite autoclaves, and 22% use off-site facilities. But incineration is still common: 10% have their own incinerators, and 56% use off-site incinerators.

To obtain a copy of the Environmental Working Group’s survey report, “Greening Hospitals,” contact the Center for Health, Environment and Justice, P.O. Box 6806, Falls Church, VA 22040. Tel. 703-237-2249; to view the report on line, visit: www.ewg.org