Garbage is probably the last thing you want to think about during your busy work day. As long as it is taken away and you’re not violating any regulations, why worry about it, right?

Well, there are several reasons why you should watch your waste-line, and do a little hauler homework. For one, as a medical care provider, you are responsible for the waste you generate, so even though it goes “away,” it never stops being your waste, or your responsibility (liability). Secondly, your concern about the well-being of your community should translate into concern about your practice’s contribution to pollution.

And thirdly, a relatively small-volume site like your office often requires frequent pick-up for relatively small quantities of waste (compared with massive hospitals). That is an expensive scenario. Waste knowledge impacts liability, safety, and often, costs. Here’s how to get the most out of your Non-regulated (regular waste) hauler and make sure you’re getting what you paid for:

Audit Your Invoices: Get copies of your waste removal invoices for a few months to see how often you get pick-ups and at what rate. It may be a flat rate, per bag, per cubic yard, or per container. If the invoice is vague, you may be able to get more information from your building super or by contacting the waste hauler directly. Waste fees may be included in your lease.

Some regions have caps on how much you can be charged. Check with your local municipality to find out which agency regulates pricing in your area. For example, in New York City, the Trade Waste Commission licenses waste haulers and caps haulage fees.

Hold It In: Hang on to all of your waste for 24-hours, to understand exactly how much you generate. What size bags do you use, and how many are there at the end of the day? Once you know how much waste you generate, compare that to the invoice and see if the haulage charges make sense. If you’re being charged for more than you generate or your rates are higher than they should be, document your concerns in writing and contact your hauler.

Inquire and Negotiate: Ask the management at the haulage company how they calculate your bill. Haulers typically estimate your average generation rate; it is very possible the estimate was miscalculated. Chances are, your hauler will be willing to re-negotiate the charges.

Check Your Frequency: Are your pick-ups more frequent than is necessary? See if you can cut back. This is the easiest way to reduce costs because most of the hauler’s cost is in labor and transportation. Reducing pick-ups directly impacts their operating costs, and the end-result could be savings for you.

Find Out Where It All Ends Up: Ask for the name of the disposal facility where your waste will ultimately end up. If your trash typically contains a lot of plastics, you may want to request landfill rather than incineration, since burning PVC has been shown to produce dioxins, a group of extremely toxic compounds. Many haulers will comply with such requests.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: If you are not already recycling, ask your hauler about it. A simple thing like segregating corrugated boxes and mixed paper can reduce the amount of waste for which you must pay hauling charges. Recyclables are usually removed for free, or for less than non-recyclable waste. If your hauler does not offer recycling, check the local yellow pages for recycling vendors.

Change Your Purchasing Practices: Consider reusable gowns, reusable medical instruments, hot air dryers in rest rooms instead of paper towels, cloth diapers, and reusable coffee mugs for staff. Consider options for your high-volume disposables. Learn more about environmentally preferable purchasing by checking out the U Mass-Lowell’s Sustainable Hospitals Project at: www.uml.edu/centers/LCSP/hospitals.

Please email me your specific questions or concerns and I will be happy to help you work towards a healthier solution to health care waste. Reach me at: jbrown@bethisraelny.org

Janet Brown is the medical Waste Manager for Beth Israel Medical Center, New York City. Beth Israel is firmly committed to reducing the volume and toxicity of its waste stream. Many of the strategies that work for Beth Israel can also work for you.