Hospitals generate in excess of one percent of all the solid waste in the United States. In addition, hospitals are unique by comparison to other waste producing entities because they generate such a diverse variety of wastes.

A typical hospital wastestream may be comprised of solid, hazardous, radioactive, biological, regulated medical, and other specialized chemical wastes that are ultimately discarded or released to the air, land or water. Another distinct feature of these facilities is the rate of waste generation calculated per hospital patient, which can typically exceed four times that of an average citizen. Given these unique characteristics, facility managers and hospital engineers face many “specialized” challenges that extend beyond merely managing wastes in accord with cost effective, environmentally sound practices.