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Environmental Groups
These groups are working with MHA in helping hospitals manage hazardous wastes:
HEARRT
The Healthcare Environmental Awareness and Resource Reduction Team (HEARRT) grew out a steering committee of healthcare professionals that helped produce the video Mercury and the Healthcare Professional in 1996 and 1997. The group established a rapport and agreed that there were other environmental issues within the healthcare industry that the group could address. HEARRT selected their name, agreed to meet quarterly and broaden their focus beyond mercury.
About this time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed a memorandum of understanding with the American Hospital Association that called for virtually eliminating mercury from hospitals by 2005 and reducing total waste hospitals generate by 33 percent by 2005 and 50 percent by 2010. This project is called H2E or Hospitals for a Healthy Environment. HEARRT has had a loose association with the H2E project all along and continues to provide feedback on the development of training materials and other initiatives taking place with H2E.
The Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance (OEA) coordinates the HEARRT group and one meeting a year is held at the Minnesota Hospital Association offices.
Representatives from healthcare facilities, county hazardous waste staff and state agencies all take part in the meetings. For more information or to become a member of the group contact Emily Moore, OEA, pollution prevention (651) 215-0201.
SWMCB
The Solid Waste Management Coordinating Board (SWMCB) is a joint powers board that coordinates regional solid and hazardous waste program initiatives in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties. Since early 2002, the SWMCB has been working jointly with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and Metropolitan Council Environmental Services to ensure proper management of hazardous waste generated at health care facilities. In 2003 SWMCB started working with representatives of the Minnesota health care sector to communicate regulatory concerns, develop strategies for addressing concerns and to achieve regulatory compliance. SWMCB continues to meet to discuss issues and concerns health care facilities are facing in achieving full compliance with Minnesota hazardous waste regulations (Minnesota Rules Chapters 7001, 7045 & 7046). For more information or to receive notices about future meetings contact Fawzi Awad, hazardous waste specialist, Saint Paul - Ramsey County Department of Public Health (651) 773-4459.
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