1. Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) Project Healthcare Facilities and Hazardous Waste Fawzi Awad Ramsey County Environmental Health 651-773-4459 Fawzi.awad@co,ramsey.mn.us

2. The SWMCB Mission The mission of the Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB), which serves the metropolitan counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, and Washington, is to increase the efficiency and environmental effectiveness of the region’s solid waste management system.

3. How Regulation Happens The counties in the SWMCB region are the regulatory agencies. The SWMCB provides a forum for counties to work together to achieve a consistent regulatory approach.

4. Phases of the Project Phase I: Reach consensus among SWMCB metropolitan counties and state regulatory agencies Phase II: Develop a strategy for working with healthcare facilities and other stakeholders to achieve compliance. Phase III: Develop and implement training and workshops.

5. What’s the Problem? US Hospitals and Health Care Facilities generate an estimated 2.7 million tons of waste / year Regulations for disposing of hospital waste are confusing Recent EPA crackdown on non-complying hospitals NEW YORK (11/26/03) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking $64,349 in penalties from the owner and operator of Mountainside Hospital in Montclair, N.J. The EPA cited parent company Atlantic Health System Inc. for violating numerous hazardous waste management requirements under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

6. Type of Waste from Healthcare Facilities:  Solid Waste  Infectious Waste  Radioactive Waste  Hazardous Waste

7. Common Hazardous Wastes Disposal Practices Chemo Waste, Solvents, Lab Waste, Others Hazardous Waste Recycled in house Xylene, Formaldehyde (+) Disposed of as Hazardous Waste Bulk Chemo Waste (+) Discharged into Sewer most of lab waste (-) Disposed of as Infectious Waste Trace Chemo Waste (-)

8. SWMCB Approach Get agencies to agree on standards and approach SWMCB Counties Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES) MN Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) MN Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) Work with industry to inform and educate; also to collaborate on solutions Provide support to industry to come into compliance

9. Project Accomplishments Unified approach to standards and enforcement on hazardous waste Fact sheets clarified requirements August 2003 deadline for chemo waste compliance July 2005 deadline for full hazardous waste compliance Tools Developed for Other Wastes Fact Sheets, Assessment Tool, web site references Training Delivered

10. Training Program Collaboration with Industry: Hospitals Hosted Training United Hospital – 11/28 Fairview Ridges Hospital – 11/29 North Memorial Hospital – 11/31 Strong Response: 161 attendees Cost Effective Effort: SWMCB budgeted $15,000; after Donations and Registration Fees, cost to SWMCB = $3,500

11. Compliance Steps Training Report Phase I wastes on annual report Report Phase II wastes on annual report Full compliance October 2003 January 2004 January 2005 July 2005

13. Volume of Hazardous Waste Generated in 2005