Reducing and Recycling in Joint Arthroplasty

Reducing the need for costly contaminated waste processing after total hip arthroplasties (THAs) and total knee arthroplasties (TKAs) could decrease hospital overhead and the environmental impact. From March through April 2011, we prospectively identified 20 consecutive patients undergoing primary THA or TKA by 1 surgeon in 1 operating room at our institution. For each case, waste (excluding liquids) was collected and sorted as it was produced. The 10 THAs and 10 TKAs produced an average of 30.0 lb (range, 27.1-32.5) and 33.2 lb (range, 30.9-35.2) of waste per procedure, respectively, of which 6.8 lb (range, 6.0-7.8; 22.8%) and 7.3 lb (range, 5.4-8.7; 22.0%), respectively, were potentially recyclable paper or plastic. Waste management programs should focus on recycling clean operating room waste.