Casella, BD report on medical sharps recycling pilot

BD (Becton, Dickinson and Co.), a global medical technology company, and Casella Waste Systems Inc., a Rutland, Vermont-based solid waste, recycling and resource management services company, have released the results of a recent recycling pilot to manage discarded syringes and needles that led to 40,000 pounds of medical waste being recycled.  

Health care facilities are major consumers of syringes, which have been particularly difficult to recycle because of the various components and steps involved in the process, including safe handling of medical waste and treating and sterilizing materials before they can be reintroduced for recycling. This recycling pilot looks to address a historic challenge within the health care industry.

The companies say the circular economy pilot, which took place during the first half of this year, was the first large-scale effort to assess the feasibility of recycling medical waste found in red sharps containers. These containers include a broad range of medical equipment and materials, primarily syringes and needles. The medical waste was collected across a variety of health care facilities, and all of the plastics were diverted from disposal and recycled. The pilot also assessed the technical feasibility of mechanical and advanced recycling, which both show favorable results in their ability to successfully recycle used medical devices for use in other products.

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“Needles and syringes help enable a wide range of critical medical treatments and care, but they require plastic for production, which generates waste and is one of the most relevant environmental issues facing the health care industry today,” BD Vice President and General Manager of Injectables Chee Lum says. “At BD, we are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our portfolio, and the results of this study show that by working together with industry partners, we can drive sustainable solutions that have a positive impact on the health of our planet and communities.”

The next stage of the pilot program will expand regionally to additional hospitals and nonacute care facilities. The teams also will focus on other types of medical materials for recycling, as well as reclaiming used devices and returning them to the manufacturing process.

“This pilot showcases the strength of collaborative partnerships when it comes to sustainable material management practices,” Casella Waste Chairman and CEO John W. Casella says. “We are excited to find an opportunity to provide our expertise and services to a forward-thinking customer like BD to help enable new streams of sustainability and resource management. We’re pleased with the outcome of this first phase and look forward to continuing to expand on these results and provide solutions to one of health care’s most pressing waste issues.”

Over the last decade, Franklin Lakes, New Jersey-based BD and Casella Waste have partnered to recover, process and recycle waste at BD sites across the U.S. BD is addressing the impact of its devices from cradle to grave, ultimately progressing toward its 2030 environmental, social and governance goals.