Green endoscopy - sustainable initiatives to optimise waste in endoscopy
| Sunday, May 17, 2026 |
| 11:30 AM - 11:42 AM |
| Arthur Streeton Auditorium |
Overview
Shani George
Details
Endoscopy is the 10th highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in NSW (ABM Portal FY2022/23). Liverpool Hospital’s Endoscopy Unit, the hub for the NSW Health Climate Risk and Net Zero Program, identified key barriers to sustainable practice based on findings from the LEAFGREEN Survey —lack of policy support, limited knowledge, overlooked practices, and perceived cost. In response, the team introduced sustainable procurement measures and waste‑optimisation education to improve waste reduction and segregation. These outcomes informed a draft Sustainability Toolkit designed for easy adoption across endoscopy units nationwide.
Aims: This study aimed to improve endoscopy sustainability by optimising waste management. Key objectives were to improve waste segregation by diverting inappropriate clinical waste to general waste and ensuring recyclables are correctly sorted; reduce overall waste generation; transition from single‑use items to reusable alternatives; and strengthen recycling practices within the unit.
Methods:
A three‑week pre‑intervention audit quantified clinical, general, plastic, and cardboard waste in endoscopy theatres, with additional reviews of sharps and clinical waste bin contents. Data were recorded in Microsoft Excel, and procurement records were analysed to assess product use and ordering patterns.
Interventions included targeted education for medical and nursing staff on correct waste segregation, reducing unnecessary consumables, and appropriate PPE use. Recycling and cardboard bins were added at key waste points, clinical waste bins were relocated, and clear signage was introduced to reinforce correct practices. Procurement changes focused on sustainable sourcing, reusable options, bulk ordering with minimal packaging, stock rotation, and avoiding unnecessary opening of sterile items. Post‑intervention, procurement data were reviewed and a second three‑week audit measured changes in clinical, general, plastic, and cardboard waste generation.
Results:
Pre‑ and post‑intervention audits showed a significant reduction in total waste produced by the unit. Non‑recyclable waste decreased by an estimated 2.98 tonnes annually (37.4%), and 614.3 kg of waste was identified as recyclable through improved segregation. Financial analysis showed savings of about $0.30 per kilogram of general waste ($288 annually) and $2,030 in reduced clinical waste disposal costs. These findings demonstrate clear environmental and economic benefits from targeted sustainability interventions in endoscopy.
Discussion:
Targeted sustainability initiatives in the endoscopy unit significantly reduced both total and clinical waste. These interventions delivered clear environmental and economic benefits, highlighting the value of structured waste‑optimisation strategies in healthcare. All strategies were systematically documented and compiled into a draft Sustainable Endoscopy Toolkit, which is currently under review for potential adoption across endoscopy units in Australia.
Speaker
Shani George
Liverpool Hospital
Green endoscopy - sustainable initiatives to optimise waste in endoscopy
Abstract
Endoscopy is the 10th highest source of greenhouse gas emissions in NSW (ABM Portal FY2022/23). Liverpool Hospital’s Endoscopy Unit, the hub for the NSW Health Climate Risk and Net Zero Program, identified key barriers to sustainable practice based on findings from the LEAFGREEN Survey —lack of policy support, limited knowledge, overlooked practices, and perceived cost. In response, the team introduced sustainable procurement measures and waste‑optimisation education to improve waste reduction and segregation. These outcomes informed a draft Sustainability Toolkit designed for easy adoption across endoscopy units nationwide.
Aims: This study aimed to improve endoscopy sustainability by optimising waste management. Key objectives were to improve waste segregation by diverting inappropriate clinical waste to general waste and ensuring recyclables are correctly sorted; reduce overall waste generation; transition from single‑use items to reusable alternatives; and strengthen recycling practices within the unit.
Methods:
A three‑week pre‑intervention audit quantified clinical, general, plastic, and cardboard waste in endoscopy theatres, with additional reviews of sharps and clinical waste bin contents. Data were recorded in Microsoft Excel, and procurement records were analysed to assess product use and ordering patterns.
Interventions included targeted education for medical and nursing staff on correct waste segregation, reducing unnecessary consumables, and appropriate PPE use. Recycling and cardboard bins were added at key waste points, clinical waste bins were relocated, and clear signage was introduced to reinforce correct practices. Procurement changes focused on sustainable sourcing, reusable options, bulk ordering with minimal packaging, stock rotation, and avoiding unnecessary opening of sterile items. Post‑intervention, procurement data were reviewed and a second three‑week audit measured changes in clinical, general, plastic, and cardboard waste generation.
Results:
Pre‑ and post‑intervention audits showed a significant reduction in total waste produced by the unit. Non‑recyclable waste decreased by an estimated 2.98 tonnes annually (37.4%), and 614.3 kg of waste was identified as recyclable through improved segregation. Financial analysis showed savings of about $0.30 per kilogram of general waste ($288 annually) and $2,030 in reduced clinical waste disposal costs. These findings demonstrate clear environmental and economic benefits from targeted sustainability interventions in endoscopy.
Discussion:
Targeted sustainability initiatives in the endoscopy unit significantly reduced both total and clinical waste. These interventions delivered clear environmental and economic benefits, highlighting the value of structured waste‑optimisation strategies in healthcare. All strategies were systematically documented and compiled into a draft Sustainable Endoscopy Toolkit, which is currently under review for potential adoption across endoscopy units in Australia.
Aims: This study aimed to improve endoscopy sustainability by optimising waste management. Key objectives were to improve waste segregation by diverting inappropriate clinical waste to general waste and ensuring recyclables are correctly sorted; reduce overall waste generation; transition from single‑use items to reusable alternatives; and strengthen recycling practices within the unit.
Methods:
A three‑week pre‑intervention audit quantified clinical, general, plastic, and cardboard waste in endoscopy theatres, with additional reviews of sharps and clinical waste bin contents. Data were recorded in Microsoft Excel, and procurement records were analysed to assess product use and ordering patterns.
Interventions included targeted education for medical and nursing staff on correct waste segregation, reducing unnecessary consumables, and appropriate PPE use. Recycling and cardboard bins were added at key waste points, clinical waste bins were relocated, and clear signage was introduced to reinforce correct practices. Procurement changes focused on sustainable sourcing, reusable options, bulk ordering with minimal packaging, stock rotation, and avoiding unnecessary opening of sterile items. Post‑intervention, procurement data were reviewed and a second three‑week audit measured changes in clinical, general, plastic, and cardboard waste generation.
Results:
Pre‑ and post‑intervention audits showed a significant reduction in total waste produced by the unit. Non‑recyclable waste decreased by an estimated 2.98 tonnes annually (37.4%), and 614.3 kg of waste was identified as recyclable through improved segregation. Financial analysis showed savings of about $0.30 per kilogram of general waste ($288 annually) and $2,030 in reduced clinical waste disposal costs. These findings demonstrate clear environmental and economic benefits from targeted sustainability interventions in endoscopy.
Discussion:
Targeted sustainability initiatives in the endoscopy unit significantly reduced both total and clinical waste. These interventions delivered clear environmental and economic benefits, highlighting the value of structured waste‑optimisation strategies in healthcare. All strategies were systematically documented and compiled into a draft Sustainable Endoscopy Toolkit, which is currently under review for potential adoption across endoscopy units in Australia.
Biography
Shani George is a Clinical Nurse Educator in the Endoscopy Unit at Liverpool Hospital, NSW. She leads the development and delivery of education programs and workshops for nursing and medical staff, with a strong focus on interventional and third‑space endoscopy. With more than a decade of specialised experience in interventional endoscopy, Shani has been a key contributor to the establishment and advancement of Direct Access Colonoscopy services across SWSLHD.
Shani also serves as the Nursing Lead for Endoscopy within the NSW Ministry of Health’s Climate Risk and Net Zero Program. In this role, she has driven a range of sustainability initiatives, including implementing sustainable procurement practices, redesigning waste‑segregation systems, and delivering targeted staff education to optimise resource use and reduce environmental impact. Her leadership continues to support the integration of environmentally responsible practices across endoscopy services statewide.
