Seoul Bumin Hospital, Ward Medical Waste Container Use Decreased 35.6%...Best to realize eco-friendly hospitals
Apr 25, 2025
Seoul Bumin Hospital (Hospital Director Ha Yong-chan) announced that it achieved a 35.6% reduction in the use of medical waste containers through the activity of reducing the use of medical waste containers led by the ward nursing team. Along with the realization of ESG management, this activity is attracting attention as a practical improvement activity for more eco-friendly hospital operation.
In 2023, a total of 178,995 kilograms of medical waste were discharged from Seoul Bumin Hospital, resulting in a total of 44,250 dedicated waste containers being used. The cost of waste disposal alone amounted to about 200 million won, and the cost of operating the hospital and the environmental burden were considerable.
In response, the hospital began efforts to more thoroughly separate and discharge medical waste and general waste in 2024 with ESG management efficiency and environmental certification preparations. In particular, the ward nursing team led systematic improvement activities to increase the accuracy of medical waste classification and reduce unnecessary infectious waste discharge.
The nursing team raised awareness of waste separation standards through training and on-site monitoring for employees and clarified the distinction between infectious and general waste. As a result, the use of medical waste containers decreased by 35.6% compared to the previous year, and it is possible to catch two rabbits at the same time: reducing waste disposal costs and realizing eco-friendly management.
These achievements were also recognized externally. Through the QI activity, the nursing team in the ward of the Seoul Bumin Hospital won the poster prize at the 2024 Korean Medical Quality Improvement Association Fall Conference, and the 2025 Seoul Metropolitan Hospital Association QI Competition won the Small and Medium-sized Hospital category 'Excellence Award'.
Ha Yong-chan, the head of the hospital, said, "This QI activity went beyond simple cost savings, and was an opportunity to take a step closer to environmental protection and sustainable hospital operation. We will continue to expand our activities to all departments to take the lead in realizing eco-friendly hospitals."
Based on this achievement, the Seoul Bumin Hospital plans to expand medical waste reduction activities to departments outside the ward, such as outpatient and operating rooms, and continue to operate internal education and campaigns to establish an ESG-based environmental management system.
In 2023, a total of 178,995 kilograms of medical waste were discharged from Seoul Bumin Hospital, resulting in a total of 44,250 dedicated waste containers being used. The cost of waste disposal alone amounted to about 200 million won, and the cost of operating the hospital and the environmental burden were considerable.
In response, the hospital began efforts to more thoroughly separate and discharge medical waste and general waste in 2024 with ESG management efficiency and environmental certification preparations. In particular, the ward nursing team led systematic improvement activities to increase the accuracy of medical waste classification and reduce unnecessary infectious waste discharge.
The nursing team raised awareness of waste separation standards through training and on-site monitoring for employees and clarified the distinction between infectious and general waste. As a result, the use of medical waste containers decreased by 35.6% compared to the previous year, and it is possible to catch two rabbits at the same time: reducing waste disposal costs and realizing eco-friendly management.
These achievements were also recognized externally. Through the QI activity, the nursing team in the ward of the Seoul Bumin Hospital won the poster prize at the 2024 Korean Medical Quality Improvement Association Fall Conference, and the 2025 Seoul Metropolitan Hospital Association QI Competition won the Small and Medium-sized Hospital category 'Excellence Award'.
Ha Yong-chan, the head of the hospital, said, "This QI activity went beyond simple cost savings, and was an opportunity to take a step closer to environmental protection and sustainable hospital operation. We will continue to expand our activities to all departments to take the lead in realizing eco-friendly hospitals."
Based on this achievement, the Seoul Bumin Hospital plans to expand medical waste reduction activities to departments outside the ward, such as outpatient and operating rooms, and continue to operate internal education and campaigns to establish an ESG-based environmental management system.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
