A Clean Slate: Waste Management in Health Care Starts with Practical Systems

Reduction In Motion works with health care facilities to streamline waste management, improving bottom lines and patient care.

We’re excited to share that Waste Today magazine recently featured Reduction In Motion in a profile explaining how we help health care facilities streamline their waste programs for better compliance, lower costs, and safer environments—for staff, patients, and the planet.

Read the full article here on Waste Today’s website.

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Why This Story Matters

Too often, waste is out of sight, out of mind—until it becomes a compliance failure, an expensive waste bill, or an environmental concern. In regulated environments like hospitals, those costs add up fast and come with real risks.

As our Director of New Business Development, Zach Hetrick, puts it in the article:

“Managing waste requires a system. This isn’t a bunch of quick fixes or silver bullet-type initiatives that have instant impact.”

That mindset is the foundation of our work. Since 2002, we’ve built practical, customized systems that help facilities make sense of their waste, especially when there are 12+ waste streams, tight regulatory oversight, and frontline staff delivering life-saving care.

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Overclassification = Overspending

A central theme of the article is overclassification, especially in medical waste. When too much ends up in red bags, it’s not just bad for budgets—it’s also bad for the environment.

“We were working with facilities that had upwards of 75% of all of their waste going out in a red bag.”

That’s not sustainable. We help facilities cut that number significantly by focusing on communication, container placement, signage, and education, not by pushing expensive equipment or hauling services. We’re vendor-neutral because we believe every decision should be based on your needs, not a sales quota.

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Waste Compliance Is a Growing Risk

Compliance missteps are landing health systems, and other industries, in headlines—and in court. As the Waste Today article mentions, the recent $49 million fine against Kaiser Permanente in California has been a wake-up call.

Our team is currently supporting compliance remediation efforts in California and beyond, helping clients shore up gaps and prevent costly mistakes.

To get started, here’s a quick 5-question compliance check you can do today:

1. Has your waste management policy or policies been reviewed within the past 12 months to reflect all waste streams generated at your facility?
2. Have all staff received documented training within the last 12 months on the proper handling, separation, and disposal of all waste streams?
3. When was the last time your hazardous waste vendor reviewed your formulary to ensure proper classification and disposal of pharmaceutical waste?
4. Do you have a program to ensure all patient-sensitive items, not just paper, such as labels, wristbands, and IV bags are managed properly?
5. Are regular waste rounds or audits being conducted – either by staff or a third party – to monitor compliance and identify areas of non-compliance?

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Not Just Health Care

The article also highlights how we’ve brought our comprehensive approach to universities, manufacturing facilities, and stadiums across the country. While waste streams differ, the formula for success remains the same:

• Start with a clear audit
• Build a system based on real operations
• Align communication across departments
• Monitor results and evolve over time

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We’re Grateful for the Spotlight

Thanks again to Waste Today magazine and Managing Editor Shelley Mann for capturing what we do and why it matters. It’s not often that the nuanced work of waste reduction gets this kind of platform, and we’re glad to be part of the conversation.

 Click here to read the full article on WasteTodayMagazine.com

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What’s Next?

We’ll be expanding on the article in upcoming posts, including a closer look at training strategies, waste stream mapping, and how to communicate clearly across departments.

In the meantime, if you’re thinking about where your waste program stands, we’d love to talk. Whether you need to improve compliance, hit sustainability goals, or just understand your true costs, we’re here to help.