Moving Towards Zero Waste at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center

Course Code: ENR 4567Course Code: AEDE 4567The Ohio State University set a goal to divert 95% of waste from landfills by 2025. The Wexner Medical Center at OSU faces several issues regarding the tracking of waste and good waste diversion strategies. A team of four undergraduate students was tasked to create a waste dashboard to better track and analyze waste data and to create a waste diversion plan for the hospital. After conducting key informant interviews and benchmarking analyses with top-performing sustainability hospitals, the team devised the following recommendations. The software programs Qlik Sense and Smartsheet were recommended to create a waste dashboard to display waste data. A four-part waste reduction plan was created that includes the use of educational videos, handouts about waste decomposition rates, composting programs, and an employee-focused program where nurses encourage proper recycling during their assigned shifts. If the Wexner Medical Center can implement waste diversion measures such as those described in this paper, Ohio State will make significant progress in achieving their Zero Waste Goal of 95% waste diversion and will become recognized leaders in hospital sustainability in the United States.Academic Major: Environment, Economy, Development, and SustainabilityAcademic Major: Theatr