Abstract
This white paper examines the environmental and financial benefits of the Sharps Terminator, an FDA approved, innovative device for reducing sharps medical waste, as demonstrated in a pilot study at BluePearl Veterinary Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas. During the study, hospital staff utilized the Sharps Terminator at seven injection stations. The study revealed a 97.6% reduction in the use of plastic sharps containers, saving 1,354 pounds of plastic annually, along with an annual reduction of 6,463 pounds of CO2 emissions, and an 86.2% in cost savings. Scaling the device across Mars Veterinary Health hospitals could lead an annual reduction of nearly 1421.7 tons of plastic waste in North America, and 2,031 tons globally. This equates to approximately 4,200 tons of CO2 and yields over $25 million in annual savings while supporting Mars Veterinary Health goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Sharps Terminator is an FDA approved device that safely destroys 18g-31g needles. The Sharps Terminator incinerates the needle and automatically cuts the needle hub separating it from the plastic syringe. The non-sharp plastic syringe is now a recycling opportunity. After 30 procedures the small needle remnants are emptied from the swarf collection tube into a sharps bin. This process greatly reduces the rate at which sharps bins are filled, and therefore significantly reduces plastic waste and associated CO2 emissions. This white paper details a pilot study conducted at Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospital in Overland Park, Kansas, where the device demonstrated substantial environmental and financial benefits.
In the Blue Pearl Hospital study, the Sharps Terminator led to a 97.6% reduction in plastic sharps container waste, saving 1,354 pounds of plastic annually, along with an annual reduction of 6,463 pounds of CO2 emissions, and nearly 86.2% in cost savings. Given the broad applicability of the device, scaling across all 2,100 Mars Veterinary Health hospitals—including Blue Pearl, Banfield and VCA facilities—could result in over $25 million in annual savings, along with 1,421.7 tons of plastic eliminated and 4,200 tons of CO2 saved. For all 3,000 Mars’ hospitals across the globe, these numbers would increase to 2,031 tons of plastic eliminated and 6,000 tons of CO2 saved annually. The Sharps Terminator contributes to Mars Veterinary Health commitment to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50% by 2030 through its “Sustainable in a Generation” plan.
PLASTIC WASTE REDUCTION
Traditional Sharps DisposalSharps containers, made mainly from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or polypropylene, are a significant portion of plastic waste in healthcare settings. These single-use containers are discarded after being filled, and due to the hazardous nature of the contents, they are often incinerated or sent to landfills, contributing to the ever-growing plastic waste crisis. Before the Sharps Terminator was installed, Blue Pearl required weekly pickups of 18 two-gallon and 11 one-gallon sharps containers. These containers contributed 1,388 pounds of plastic waste annually, all of which was discarded after use. The traditional management of sharps containers leads to millions of non-recyclable plastic containers being disposed of every year, creating a heavy burden on landfill sites and contributing to global pollution. This also strains resource consumption, as more raw materials are required to continually manufacture new containers.
Impact of Sharps TerminatorAfter implementing the Sharps Terminator, plastic waste was reduced by 1,354 pounds annually, bringing the total waste from 1,388 pounds to 33.6 pounds—a 97.6% reduction. Instead of using multiple containers, the facility could switch to monthly pickups of just 7 one-quart containers, resulting in a significant decrease in plastic waste and disposal needs. By incinerating the needle and separating the plastic syringe body, the device significantly minimizes plastic waste. Establishing a syringe body recycling program would further minimize waste. This reduction in waste helps healthcare facilities comply with regulations aimed at reducing plastic use and supports a circular economy.
ExtrapolationIf the Sharps Terminator were scaled across all 2,100+ Mars Veterinary Health hospitals, this reduction in plastic waste would prevent 1421.7 tons of plastic from entering landfills annually
in North America, and 2,031 tons of plastic globally. This reduction would substantially contribute to Mars Veterinary Health sustainability goals, reducing the corporation’s environmental footprint.
CO2 EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS
Traditional Sharps Disposal and CO2 ImpactThe lifecycle of traditional sharps containers—from manufacturing to disposal—has a considerable carbon footprint. The production of these containers involves significant energy consumption, and the transport for disposal adds further CO2 emissions. In many cases, waste collection occurs on a weekly basis, with healthcare facilities relying on frequent pickups to manage the high volume of containers. This constant cycle of manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of plastic containers results in a heavy environmental burden, with transportation alone contributing substantially to Scope 1 emissions for healthcare facilities.
Impact of Sharps TerminatorThe Sharps Terminator reduced the number of bins consumed by 93%. At Overland Park, the device would reduce sharps container waste pickups from weekly to monthly, leading to a reduction of 6,463 pounds of CO2 annually. The device also helps reduce Scope 3 emissions related to the production and disposal of sharps containers, as fewer new containers are required when the syringe needle is incinerated.
Pre-Manufacturing and Manufacturing Emissions:
Pre-Manufacturing: Traditional sharps containers, made from HDPE or polypropylene, contribute between 2,321.8 to 4,277 kg of CO2 annually from raw material extraction alone.
Manufacturing: The production of these containers, including energy-intensive molding and packaging processes, adds another 3,055 to 4,888 kg of CO2 annually.
When combined, the pre-manufacturing and manufacturing emissions for traditional sharps containers total between 5,377 to 9,165 kg of CO2 annually. Implementing the Sharps Terminator could reduce total sharps container emissions use by 97.6%.
EXTRAPOLATIONIf adopted across Mars Veterinary Health hospitals, the total emissions reductions would range from 3.73 million to 5.22 million pounds of CO2 annually. This reduction is equivalent to removing between 367 and 515 cars from the road or planting between 77,713 and 108,808 trees annually, directly supporting Mars’ sustainability goals. Such a reduction would significantly help Mars Veterinary Health meet its 50% GHG reduction target by 2030, contributing to its overall carbon management strategy. The savings in emissions are not limited to waste transportation; by reducing the need for plastic manufacturing, the Sharps Terminator further reduces indirect emissions, making it a vital part of a comprehensive sustainability plan.
COST SAVINGS
Current Costs of Traditional DisposalDisposing of medical waste through traditional methods is environmentally costly and financially burdensome. Healthcare facilities spend significant amounts on purchasing, transporting and disposing of sharps containers. The recurring cost of buying single-use containers and arranging frequent disposal adds up quickly, particularly for large healthcare networks like BluePearl, Banfield, and VCA. This financial burden is compounded by the operational inefficiency of managing a continuous flow of hazardous waste.
Cost Savings at Overland ParkIn the Overland Park study, the Sharps Terminator reduced the frequency of waste pickups from weekly to monthly and cut the need for new sharps containers by 97.6%. As a result, the hospital could save nearly 86.2% annually through a combination of reduced waste management fees, lower transportation costs, and decreased expenditures on new containers. The Sharps Terminator streamlines the sharps container management processes while keeping compliance with CDC safety standards.
ExtrapolationWhen extrapolated across the 2,100+ Mars Veterinary Health hospitals in North America, the financial savings from implementing the Sharps Terminator could exceed $25 million annually. The reduction in costs makes the Sharps Terminator a long-term solution for medical waste management, ensuring that Mars Veterinary Health can maintain both environmental and financial sustainability. By cutting down on waste-related expenses, the Sharps Terminator offers a clear return on investment, reinforcing its value as a key tool for modern veterinary hospitals.
CONCLUSION
The Sharps Terminator has demonstrated remarkable environmental and financial benefits in reducing plastic waste, lowering CO2 emissions, and generating significant cost savings, all while improving workplace safety by potentially reducing needle-stick injuries. The device follows the CDC protocol of single-handed procedure at the point of injection to disposal, resulting in a safer work environment.
Implementing the Sharps Terminator across all 2,100 Mars Veterinary Health hospitals in North America would prevent approximately 1421.7 tons of plastic waste annually and reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 7.8 million to 11 million pounds annually. Global implementation at Mars Veterinary Health hospitals could yield 2,031 tons of plastic waste saved annually, with an annual reduction of 11 million to 15 million pounds of CO2 emissions. These substantial decreases would play a crucial role in helping Mars meet its 50% carbon reduction target by 2030. Financially, the Sharps Terminator offers an opportunity for Mars to save over $25 million annually by reducing the need for new sharps containers and lowering transportation costs. The reduced waste pickups and container usage provide a clear return on investment, further enhancing operational sustainability.
The Sharps Terminator offers Mars Veterinary Health an efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for medical waste management. By expanding its use across all veterinary hospitals, Mars Veterinary Health can not only achieve its environmental sustainability goals but also create a safer and more cost-efficient workplace for its employees.
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