Waste disposal costs money. Misdirected waste disposal costs even more. Up to 60% more in the case of some hospitals, where waste stream audits reveal too many instances of pizza boxes and clean gloves casually tossed into red bags intended for biomedical waste.

Healthcare professionals are acutely aware of the importance of segregating sharps and regulated Medical Waste (RMW) from regular trash (solid waste) primarily for health and safety reasons. However, economic reasons are just as compelling. Consider that solid waste disposal costs anywhere from 1 to 5 cents a pound, and red-bag disposal costs 20 to 50 cents a pound. Every misdirected toss of paper, packaging and IV bags adds up to a huge and unnecessary expense.

Over the last 5 years, Walsh Environmental has performed hundreds of medical waste audits. These have revealed that in most hospitals, those expensive-to-dispose-of red bags actually contain as much as 60% solid waste-paper, packaging material, disposal cups, non-bloody gowns and gloves.

The Walsh Waste Tracker System has helped hospitals remedy the situation and has saved them up to 65% on their disposal costs.

The Waste Tracker^TMSystem is a waste management system designed specifically for hospitals. Developed in 1994 by Walsh Integrated Environmental Systems Inc., The Waste Tracker^TM System combines expert services and cutting-edge proprietary technology, significantly reducing the costs and the human and environmental risks associated with the management of medical waste, regular trash, and recyclables.

A key component of the Waste Tracker^TMSystem is our In-Service and Support Program, which teaches and promotes safe disposal practices.

In-service sessions are part of a comprehensive strategy to sensitize every person who generates or handles Regulated Medical Waste.

The core technology is a palm-top computer with an integrated digital camera that is used to store visual and written records of misdirected waste or potentially dangerous disposal practices. It is pre-programmed for easy data entry via a touch screen. Reports and e-mails are automatically generated and sent out to responsible parties. An e-mail with color photo of trash in the red bag waste, or a loose needle in the trash gets the people's attention pretty fast!