Post written by Rabia de Latour, MD, from NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Bellevue Hospital Center, New York, New York, USA.

Endoscopy practice generates a large amount of waste and is a major contributor to healthcare’s carbon footprint. The goal of our society document was to provide readers with practical, impactful, and scalable action items to attempt to improve their endoscopy unit’s carbon footprint—with a special focus on appropriate and optimized management of endoscopic waste. 

The carbon footprint of endoscopy is large with a lot of room for improvement. As clinicians, our focus is (appropriately) on patient care, but it is important to acknowledge the impact of global warming on patient care as well. Through strategic methods and refining our carbon footprint as a field, we can expand our reach in enhancing healthcare of the patients we serve. 

Signage examples for waste bins: A, hazardous waste; B, sharps; C, trash; and D, recycling.

Read the full article online.

The information presented in Endoscopedia reflects the opinions of the authors and does not represent the position of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE). ASGE expressly disclaims any warranties or guarantees, expressed or implied, and is not liable for damages of any kind in connection with the material, information, or procedures set forth.