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How Should US Health Care Lead Global Change in Plastic Waste Disposal?
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This article argues that US health care must lead global change in plastic waste disposal by assigning accountability to organizational leaders, implementing circular supply chains, and collaborating across medical and waste industries to reduce environmental harm.
Disposal of health care waste is one of the biggest threats to global sustainable health care. Current practices of dumping domestic and international health care waste into the earth's terra firma and oceans also undermine global health equity by adversely affecting the health of vulnerable communities. While the United Kingdom works toward circular health care economy streams that produce minimal waste, the United States continues to amplify downstream environmental and health effects of health care organizational waste management decisions. This article suggests how to reframe social and ethical responsibility for health care waste production and management by assigning strict accountability to health care organizational leaders, incentivizing circular supply chain implementation and maintenance, and encouraging strong collaborations across medical, plastic, and waste industries.
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This commentary argued that plastics used in healthcare should be classified as hazardous waste and that health professionals have a professional obligation to seek non-plastic alternatives rather than relying on recycling. The authors contended that recycling processes and recycled plastic products remain hazardous to health and the environment.
Plastic pollution: how can the global health community fight the growing problem?
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Plastic waste isn't just an environmental problem, growing evidence suggests it may harm human health through toxic chemicals, disease spread, and disruptions to our food supply, yet major health organizations have been largely silent on the issue. This paper argues that doctors and public health experts need to start treating plastic pollution as a health priority: researching its real impact on our bodies, pushing for better waste policies, and cutting down on plastic use in hospitals and clinics.
Challenges, Strategies, and Recommendations for the Huge Surge in Plastic and Medical Waste during the Global COVID-19 Pandemic with Circular Economy Approach
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Researchers reviewed how the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated plastic and medical waste generation and proposed circular economy strategies — including biodegradable plastics and improved disinfection — to prevent the surge in single-use plastics from creating a lasting microplastic pollution crisis.
Single‐use materials and poorly recycled waste in intensive care: An argument for improving sustainability
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This article argues for improving sustainability in intensive care units by addressing the environmental impact of single-use plastics, paper, and other materials commonly used in clinical settings. The authors highlight that ICU waste is energy-intensive to produce and difficult to recycle, contributing significantly to healthcare's carbon footprint. The study calls for rethinking material choices and waste management practices in critical care to reduce plastic pollution and environmental harm.
Tackling the Ubiquity of Plastic Waste for Human and Planetary Health
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Researchers outlined the dual threat posed by plastic waste to human and planetary health, calling for urgent interdisciplinary action that bridges environmental science, public health, and policy to address the ubiquitous persistence of plastic pollution across ecosystems.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.