Your Introduction to Ozone Treatment

Ozone treatment is a chemical-free process that uses ozone (O₃) to treat regulated medical waste. Here’s how it works: medical waste is loaded into a sealed chamber where it’s shredded and exposed to ozone gas. The ozone acts as a powerful oxidizing agent, breaking down bacteria, viruses, and other harmful pathogens. It’s then neutralized back into oxygen, leaving behind sterilized, non-infectious waste.

Compared to traditional methods like incineration or autoclaving, ozone treatment is quite literally a breath of fresh air. Incineration involves burning waste at high temperatures and autoclaving, while less polluting, still requires large amounts of water, time, and electricity. Ozone treatment sidesteps these issues with a faster, cleaner and more efficient approach.

Where Ozone Treatment Fits Into the Sustainability Conversation

Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Environmental accountability is a commitment hospitals are expected to uphold. With sustainability metrics tied to public image and compliance, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is a core focus. Front-end changes are important, but hospital medical waste management practices can’t be overlooked.

Ozone treatment directly supports emission reduction targets by eliminating the need for incineration or chemical-based sterilization, both of which release significant carbon and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Instead of contributing to the problem, this method helps hospitals become part of the solution, shrinking their carbon footprint with every treated load.

Chemical treatment methods for medical waste can emit up to 1113.39 KG CO₂E per ton of waste. In contrast, ozone treatment brings that number down to just 654.77 KG CO₂E per ton. That’s a nearly 50% reduction in emissions.

For more insights into how ozone treatment lowers emissions as well as costs, see the results from our GHG emissions study.

No Additional Final Waste Streams

It’s one thing to disinfect waste; it’s another to make sure disinfection doesn’t create more waste in the process.

Traditional methods fall short on this front: Incineration, for instance, produces ash, metal residue and airborne pollutants that all need to be accounted for.

Ozone treatment, on the other hand, breaks down pathogens without generating extra materials that need to be addressed later. Without secondary waste streams, this method lightens the final waste load—meaning fewer truckloads, less fuel and less strain on municipal landfills. It’s a straightforward, streamlined approach that aligns with modern waste minimization strategies.

Ozone Requires Less Time & Resources

In healthcare, as in most industries, efficiency is essential. Time, labor and resource demands don’t just impact day-to-day operations; they ripple out to affect costs, carbon usage and sustainability performance. Many legacy hospital waste treatment methods such as autoclaving place heavy burdens on utilities and staff alike. Between electricity to power the system and water to generate steam, the ecological toll adds up quickly.

Ozone treatment stands out by doing more with less. The process is quicker—up to 50% faster than traditional options—and it operates on minimal water and power inputs. That means hospitals can process more waste in less time, conserve critical resources and reduce utility spend all at once.

A Safe, Sustainable Option for the Future of Medical Waste

The push for more sustainable practices in healthcare isn’t going anywhere. Hospitals are rethinking every traditional process, and the handling of medical waste is long overdue for a makeover. Ozone treatment is a modern, environmentally responsible alternative that’s gaining notable traction.

Changing how your facility handles medical waste is, of course, a major shift that requires planning, training and trust in the process. That’s why, at WasteMedX, we go beyond offering ozone treatment technology. We partner with hospitals to navigate these shifts thoughtfully and confidently, providing hands-on support and customization every step of the way. Our goal is to make the transition frictionless, with minimal disruption and maximum impact.

But don’t just take it from us. Hear it from someone who’s been there: Bill Churchwell, director of Environmental Services at LMH Health in Lawrence, Kansas. WasteMedX’s Vortex waste management system was installed at LMH Health’s main hospital in August of this past year.

“Sustainability here is very important. We have a lot of waste that comes into a hospital. The best thing I like about this machine is we have control over our waste. We know that all of our HIPAA documents are being shredded. We know that all of our waste is being processed and sanitized, and we know where it’s going. It’s good for the hospital and it’s good for the environment.”

That kind of confidence and clarity is what we aim to bring to every partnership. Whether you’re starting to explore alternatives or you’re ready to make a change, WasteMedX will guide the process—step by step, at your pace, with your goals in mind.

Interested in learning more about how ozone treatment for medical waste can help your facility meet its sustainability goals? Let’s talk.

• Less staff to manage: Hiring and training staff for hospital waste disposal can feel daunting. Using a hauling service avoids concerns about staffing or expertise in this area.
• No equipment or system to maintain: Some hospitals are hesitant to invest in on-site disposal systems. They assume the logistics of managing a system are too complex or that doing so comes with big upfront costs.
• Curb regulatory hassles: Medical waste disposal is tied to strict regulations. Many hospitals would prefer to leave compliance concerns associated with regulated medical waste to external providers.
• Focus on patient care: Since waste disposal isn’t a core function of a hospital’s mission, outsourcing it is seen as a way to keep resources and attention on core operations.

The Downsides of Hauling Services for Hospital Waste

Considering that many of a hospital’s outsourcing decisions are tied to cost pressures, it’s important to highlight one of the biggest misconceptions about hauling services: that they save money. In reality, these outsourced services often end up costing hospitals more in the long run.

Hauling services for hospital waste charge for every pickup, transportation, and disposal—costs that add up significantly over time, considering the amount of waste that hospitals produce. As healthcare waste volumes increase, so do the disposal fees.

While trying to conserve costs, hospitals are also looking to meet sustainability goals. Hauling services can work against these efforts. Every truckload translates into more emissions, and some disposal methods used by haulers aren’t the most efficient.

All the while, hospitals have to work around the schedules of their waste haulers. If a pickup is delayed, waste can pile up, creating storage issues and potential health risks. These inconveniences can also surface as hospital needs evolve. For instance, a hospital expanding its service may find its waste volume exceeds the limits of its existing service contract, tacking on additional fees and disrupting their operations.

The Advantages of In-House Hospital Waste Disposal

Hauling services do have their time and place in a healthcare setting. For instance, smaller hospitals with low waste volumes may not generate enough waste to justify an in-house system. Hauling services also offer a short-term solution when hospitals need waste management support during renovations or expansions. But generally speaking, in-house hospital waste disposal comes out as the best of the two options.

Whether a hospital installs and operates their own waste disposal system or brings in experts to oversee the process, there are clear benefits attached to this decision.

Notable Cost Savings

When you opt to take your medical waste disposal in-house, you can benefit from a monthly all-inclusive charge, with no capital required even when you have a unit on site. This is often the right choice for a hospital system spanning multiple clinical locations with clearly defined waste streams, as you can pay the single monthly cost without worrying about additional pick-up fees.

If you do prefer to go the capital investment route, the long-term savings that come with eliminating hauling fees can still be substantial. Hospitals that produce a large amount of medical waste can see a return on their investment within a few years, as they no longer have to pay per-pound disposal costs or transportation fees. In-house systems can also be customized to a facility’s needs, curbing unnecessary costs.

Full Process Oversight

When medical waste is processed on-site, hospitals maintain direct oversight of how it’s handled. There are no concerns over mishandling by an external provider that could result in fines or legal action. At the same time, hospitals can implement their own quality control measures, train staff on best practices, and adjust protocols to align with evolving regulations.

More Efficient Operations

An in-house system can process waste as it’s generated, reducing storage needs and eliminating the wait time associated with external haulers. The faster waste can be sterilized and disposed of, the less waste accumulation hospitals have to deal with and the fewer risks there are for contamination in high-traffic zones.

Support for Sustainability Goals

In-house hospital waste disposal can reduce carbon emissions by cutting out excess transport and providing options for more eco-friendly waste treatment methods. Ozone treatment, for example, uses ozone to disinfect and break down waste without the need for high-energy incineration. While ensuring safe and effective waste processing, hospitals can lower their environmental footprint.

How WasteMedX Can Help

The idea of managing medical waste disposal in-house might seem overwhelming. That’s why, at WasteMedX, we’ve built a business around supporting these needs.

We don’t just provide a sustainable, eco-friendly waste processing system—we can function as your hospital’s in-house waste management team. Our services include:

• Comprehensive waste management solutions: We provide hospitals with in-house systems to process medical waste, along with the necessary equipment, including containers, trucks, and vans, helping you manage waste safely and efficiently.
• Staffing and operations support: We supply trained personnel to handle your waste disposal process, eliminating the need for hospitals to hire and train staff.
• Preventive maintenance and on-call service: Our team keeps your waste management system fully operational with routine maintenance and rapid-response service.
• Regulatory compliance assurance: We stay up to date on all the medical waste regulations so that your facility remains compliant at all times.

 By partnering with WasteMedX, your hospital can take full control of waste disposal, cutting costs, improving efficiency and achieving sustainability goals. Make today the day you explore a better way to manage your hospital’s waste disposal—contact us.

While adding non-regulated waste containers to rooms, it’s also beneficial to educate hospital personnel on what qualifies as RMW waste. Include eligible versus non-eligible signage near red bags and cans while setting up a time to meet on the topic to field any questions.

#2: Minimize Single-Use Medical Devices

While single-use medical devices have their time and place, reusable medical devices are the more sustainable choice when possible. These reusable devices fall into one of three categories:

• Critical devices: Come in contact with blood or normally sterile tissue (E.g.: Surgical forceps)
• Semi-critical devices: Come in contact with mucus membranes (E.g.: Endoscope)
• Non-critical devices: Come in contact with unbroken skin (E.g.: Stethoscope)

#3: Leverage an Ozone Treatment Process

Infectious waste–any waste that’s capable of transmitting communicable disease—can be found in pathological waste, infectious sharps, or biological cultures. By exposing the waste’s surface area to ozone for a sustained period of time, ozone treatment sterilizes materials and prepares them for disposal.

One benefit of ozone treatment is overall emissions reduction. The speed of ozonation cuts back on electric consumption, while no post-process waste or residue means you can reduce trips to the landfill. Compared to alternatives like incineration, the ozone treatment process can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 50%.

#4: Put an End to the Paper Trail

Many hospitals still rely on paper-based systems to support their operations. Moving to digital patient registration, implementing eSignature functionality, and using integrated barcode scanners are just a few ways health systems can cut their paper use and costs.

In line with these efforts, make it a point to coach staff on best practices and foster a paper-minimal environment.

#5: Move to the Cloud

While we’re on the topic of digitization, let’s talk about the value of cloud computing in healthcare:

• Patients get secure, on-demand access to medical information and lab test reports
• As hospital or clinical facilities scale, cloud infrastructure is able to grow with them

From a sustainability perspective, hospitals save themselves from having to maintain energy-intensive on-premises servers. Being able to scale digitally without overhauling their physical infrastructure also leads to less electronic waste.

#6: Invest in Solar Panel Roofing

The San Benito Health Foundation in Hollister, California is a 17,000 square-foot clinic that is nearly 100% solar powered. Thanks to a self-contained micro-grid of solar panels and batteries, the clinic has the ability to rely entirely on sun-fueled energy for up to a week.

Solar energy options like these are growing in popularity across the healthcare industry, and for good reason. Kaiser Permanente, for instance, reported that with a green microgrid for one of their medical office buildings in Hawaii, they’ve reduced their annual electricity costs by nearly $100,000 and decreased greenhouse gas emissions by 400 tons per year.

#7: Electrify Your Fleet

Research shows that EV vehicles currently registered in the U.S. emit up to 68% fewer greenhouse gases than comparable gasoline vehicles. When hospitals switch over to EV vehicles for patient transport and mobile health units—among other examples—they reduce their carbon footprint and improve overall air quality.

Hybrid vehicles and repurposed oil vehicles offer other clean alternatives that lessen a hospital’s overall impact.

#8: Opt for Alternative Modes of Transit

Sustainable transportation can come in many forms, whether it’s carpooling with a group of coworkers or, if located in close enough proximity, biking or walking to work.

In one case, when employees were presented with city bicycle passes and a proper infrastructure, 65% of employees said they’d like to bike to work one to two days per week.

By presenting these types of options to staff, hospitals can not only enhance the lives of urban residents but also reduce traffic congestion, outdoor air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions.

#9: Use Helium-Free MRI Systems

Helium-light and helium-free MRI systems are affordable while offering most of the same diagnostic capabilities as conventional MRIs. All the while, they reduce carbon emissions related to helium’s energy-intensive extraction and transportation.

While supporting sustainability in healthcare, these smaller, lighter MRI scanners are especially beneficial in areas of hospitals or in specialty clinics where bulkier technology is less feasible.

#10: Embrace Remote Work

When fewer people are physically present in workplaces—even if only for a few days out of the week—there’s a noticeable impact. From travel to office energy use, full-time remote workers can reduce their carbon footprint by 54%; meanwhile, hybrid employees who work from home two to four days a week can reduce their footprint by up to 29%.

With these variables in mind, hospitals can consider opportunities to move certain roles out of the hospital or adopt a hybrid approach. These departments could include IT, HR, accounting, and administrative support.

Small Steps With a Big Impact

Achieving sustainability in healthcare doesn’t have to mean drastic changes. It can be a series of practical, impactful decisions that add up. From removing red bags from patient rooms to moving to more sustainable vehicle fleets, each meaningful step moves medical facilities closer to reducing their environmental impact.

As a provider of ozone treatment technology for medical waste disposal, WasteMedX can help hospitals and health systems on their way toward a healthier, more sustainable future. Learn more about our process.

This starts with the fact that ozone treatment operates at or near ambient temperatures. Skipping over the extreme heat requirements of incineration and pressurized steam that autoclaving requires translates into significantly lower energy consumption. Autoclaving, in particular, uses an energy-intensive process to generate large amounts of steam. By avoiding this process entirely, ozone treatment eliminates a big cost driver in traditional medical waste treatment.

Ozone for waste treatment is produced on demand via electricity that passes through air or oxygen. The process uses minimal energy to split oxygen molecules into ozone—a much more efficient approach than powering boilers or combustion chambers.

The efficiency also ties into the speed of the overall treatment process. Thanks to ozone’s strong oxidative power, it can sterilize medical waste up to 50% faster than its counterparts. Shorter cycles mean lower energy consumption per waste disposal batch.

Ozone Minimizes Overall Waste

Ozone systems process medical waste without leaving behind ash, residue or secondary pollutants. This is in stark contrast to incineration, the most common form of medical waste treatment. For every ton of medical waste incinerated, up to 5-10% of that weight remains ash. Autoclaving, meanwhile, leaves behind wastewater from the system.

Ozone treatment uses an electric charge on O2 (oxygen) in order to create O3 (ozone), chemically altering the cell wall of the waste in order to sterilize it. This is designed not only to avoid adding to the volume of waste, but actually breaks it down into smaller, non-hazardous elements. Once processed, the waste is ground down into confetti, and it is now safe for disposal without the need for hazardous protocols.

From a transportation time and cost standpoint, the benefits are two-fold. By grinding down medical waste into smaller, non-toxic fragments, there’s a reduction in volume that reduces both the cost and frequency of waste transport and disposal. Further, because the ozone systems produce no harmful emissions, handling the waste becomes much more cost-effective, as you can bypass expensive steps involved in managing regulated medical waste.

With these variables in mind, ozone treatment for waste can reduce transportation time and costs up to 49%.

Ozone Treatment Requires Less Maintenance

Because incinerators and autoclaves rely on high heat and pressurized steam, there’s more wear and tear to system components. Handling these elements requires more frequent cleaning and repairs to chambers, exhaust systems, boilers, valves and more.

Based on the temperatures at which they operate, and because they don’t rely on steam, ozone systems help you avoid bills for costly repairs and frequent replacement parts. There’s little wear and tear on ozone generators and no need to replace high-pressure seals or heat-resistant materials.

Incinerators often require additional maintenance-intensive emission control systems, such as scrubbers and filters, to capture toxic byproducts like dioxins and particulates.

Ozone systems eliminate the need for complex exhaust or filtration equipment and their associated maintenance costs.

With their low-maintenance design, ozone systems reduce operational interruptions and associated labor expenses. They also tend to have a longer operational lifespan.

Ozone Treatment Can Support a Hospital’s ESG Goals

The U.S. healthcare industry has a profound impact on the environment, accounting for up to 5.2% of the nation’s total greenhouse gas emissions. It’s statistics like these, alongside regulatory developments and stakeholder encouragement, that have made hospitals increasingly prioritize environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals.

This is another area where the cost of ozone treatment for waste disposal feeds into long-term benefits. Here are a few characteristics of how ozone treatment supports each ESG goal.

Environmental Impact Benefits

• Eliminates Emissions: Ozone treatment generates no greenhouse gases or toxic byproducts like dioxins.
• Reduces Waste Volume: Less waste at the end of the process minimizes landfill dependency and disposal costs.
• Energy Efficiency: Ozone systems use significantly less energy and no water or steam, lowering the facility’s carbon footprint.

Social Responsibility Benefits

• Workplace Safety: The fully enclosed process reduces worker exposure to pathogens and sharp materials.
• Community Health: Without harmful emissions, ozone systems protect surrounding areas from air and soil contamination.
• Leadership in Sustainability: Hospitals demonstrate their dedication to environmental and social responsibility, further strengthening public trust.

Governance and Compliance

• Regulatory Compliance: Ozone treatment aligns with stricter environmental regulations on waste management, reducing risks of fines or penalties.
• Transparency: The measurable benefits, such as reduced waste and energy savings, enhance ESG reporting and demonstrate accountability.
• Ethical Practices: Hospitals adopting ozone technology showcase leadership in sustainable waste management, meeting investor and stakeholder expectations

Make an Investment in Ozone Treatment for Waste Disposal

Ozone treatment for medical waste is an investment with a big payoff. While supporting your ESG goals, the shift to this new method of waste disposal also helps you cut costs fast. You’ll experience immediate savings in energy consumption and disposal costs that will benefit your bottom line and make room for other sustainable investments in the future.

As a provider of ozone treatment technology for medical waste, WasteMedX provides you with an eco-friendly, cost-effective means of waste disposal. We’ll transition you away from traditional methods of waste disposal and help you start to see cost savings from a modernized system. Billing you on a per-pound and per-pickup basis, our services save you thousands of dollars annually over traditional waste disposal.

We’re excited for the chance to partner with you to support your sustainability goals and save you money. Contact us today for more information.

Like other Joint Commission certifications, it requires healthcare organizations to follow evidence-based practices.

The link between sustainability and health outcomes is becoming more widely accepted. According to the American Hospital Association, environmental factors contribute to chronic diseases, including asthma and cancer. The AHA has committed to helping its members — more than 5,000 health systems and hospitals — by outlining guidelines to get started.

A 2023 study of healthcare systems by the Commonwealth Fund found four in five believe it’s important for their hospital to address climate change with sustainability programs.

Patients are also increasingly concerned about healthcare sustainability.

Research by Cleanlink shows 94% of patients say sustainability matters when choosing a provider. Efforts to create hospital sustainability have evolved since then, as has the public’s perception of the importance of these efforts. Today, there is a growing push to incentivize health systems to undertake climate mitigation initiatives, from reducing energy consumption to implementing greener waste disposal practices.

Sustainable Healthcare Certification Program Objectives

The Joint Commission’s Sustainable Healthcare Certification incentivizes hospitals to decrease waste and reduce their carbon footprint through several key objectives:

• Reducing the environmental impact of healthcare facilities by reducing medical waste
• Promoting resource efficiency, encouraging the efficient use of energy, water, and materials
• Enhancing the health and wellbeing of patients, staff and the broader community by fostering healthier environments
• Encouraging healthcare leadership to adopt renewable energy infrastructure projects and other innovative strategies

Criteria for Achieving Sustainability Certification

The Joint Commission evaluates health systems based on several criteria categorized into key areas. To achieve certification, they must demonstrate competency in these areas:

Leadership and Governance

Hospitals and health systems must maintain a comprehensive sustainability policy. They must demonstrate leadership’s active involvement in promoting and implementing sustainable practices. Staff must also be engaged, ensuring that all levels of the organization align with their sustainability goals.

Energy Management

The Commission evaluates how organizations use renewable resources and their ability to monitor and consistently report energy consumption and savings.

Water Management

Healthcare facilities must implement measures to reduce water consumption and effectively manage wastewater. Regular monitoring and reporting are essential to ensure that the organization continually improves its water management practices.

Waste Management

Strategies to minimize waste generation are evaluated, along with the implementation of comprehensive recycling programs for various types of waste. Safe handling and disposal of hazardous waste ensures the safety of staff, patients and the environment.

Sustainable Procurement

The Joint Commission evaluates healthcare facilities on procurement of environmentally friendly products and materials. It’s crucial to engage with suppliers to promote sustainable practices and consider products’ environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.

Indoor Environmental Quality

The Commission evaluates whether the facility offers patients and staff a healthy and safe environment. Critical factors include:

• • • • • Steps to ensuring good indoor air quality
        • Using energy-efficient and health-promoting lighting systems
        • Using non-toxic and sustainable materials in construction and furnishings

Partner with WasteMedX to Achieve Your Sustainability Goals

The Joint Commission’s Sustainable Healthcare Certification is a significant step toward promoting environmental responsibility in the healthcare sector. Waste disposal is a critical component of the certification process. Effective waste management practices are essential to minimizing healthcare facilities’ ecological footprint.

By adhering to stringent waste disposal standards, the healthcare sector can significantly reduce pollution and contribute to a cleaner, safer environment, aligning with the certification’s goals of promoting sustainability and resource efficiency.

WasteMedX partners with healthcare providers to implement a more sustainable, eco-friendly waste disposal process. Our technology treats red bag waste, sharps, trace chemo, and more, dramatically reducing our client’s disposal costs. As healthcare leaders work toward reducing their carbon footprint and improving energy efficiency, WasteMedX helps them achieve the cleaner waste disposal required for the Joint Commission Sustainable Healthcare Certification.

Are you interested in cutting your greenhouse gas emissions by 50%?

Contact WasteMedX today for a consultation.