# Diversion Rates: MOR, ASC, Cath-Angio **URL:** \ **Category:** Industrial Machinary\ **Created:** [October 20, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://discuss.compclassnotes.com/t/diversion-rates-mor-asc-cath-angio/469 "2026-10-20T20:51:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CCNDEV](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/discuss.compclassnotes.com/ccndev/32/100_2.png) [@CCNDEV](https://discuss.compclassnotes.com/u/CCNDEV)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 8:51pm UTC](https://discuss.compclassnotes.com/t/diversion-rates-mor-asc-cath-angio/469/1 "2026-10-20T20:51:55Z")
1. **Diversion rate** measures the percentage of total waste diverted from landfill or incineration through recycling, composting, or other recovery methods. 2. **Recycling rate** measures the percentage of waste specifically sent for recycling, excluding other diversion methods like composting or energy recovery. 3. Main Operating Room (MOR) 4. Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) 5. Cath-Angio Lab (Cath-Angio) | Department | MOR | ASC | Cath-­Angio | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Clinical Work Overview | MOR specializes in adult surgical procedures including Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck, Plastics, General, Gynecology, Urology, Transplants, and Robotics. | Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) performs adult and pediatric outpatient and inpatient procedures, including General, Head and Neck, Orthopedics, Gynecology, Plastics, Otolaryngology, Urology, Neurology, Ophthalmic Plastic Surgeries and Pain Clinic procedures. ASC also assists patients with Electroconvulsive Therapy | The Cath-­‐Angio Lab specializes in adult and pediatric Interventional Cardiology, Electrophysiology, Neuroradiology, and Interventional Radiology procedures. | | Number of Suites | 21 | 12 | 14 | | Total Cases / Year | 12,980 | 9,140 | 11,140 | | Total Projected Waste Diversion Rate (%) | 23% | 11% | 15% | | Projected Plastics Diversion Rate (%) | 18% | 9% | 12% | | Most Commonly Recycled Item | Blue Wrap | Blue Wrap | Film Plastic and Tyvek® | | | | | | | | | | | # Recyclable Material Generation in Procedural Areas As noted in the following chart, plastics accounts for almost 80% of the recyclable materials generated in procedural areas, with Blue Wrap accounting for the greatest volume by weight. Film and rigid plastics account for 20% of plastics each, attributed to rigid trays and film plastic sterile pouches. The small representation of Tyvek® in the recyclables profile reflects the material’s light weight, and underrepresents the prevalence of Tyvek® in procedural supply film and rigid plastic peel packs. Recyclable paper generated in procedural areas includes paper backing, supply boxes, and booklets. Below, we expand on procedural area recyclables by material type, listed by weight. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.45.40](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/fbe14695a7686a70c2947daedc3a6557dc862c44.png) ## Blue Wrap: 36% of total recyclables. Projected annual diversion: 34 tons. Blue Wrap, the dense, polypropylene, sterile wrap generated primarily in surgical suites, is easily captured as sterile kits are opened during case setup. At an average of three pounds per procedure, Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ Main Operating Room generates nearly 30 tons of Blue Wrap annually. The ubiquity of this large volume, single material plastic in hospital waste streams nationwide presents a steady source of valuable recyclables. Opportunities for Blue Wrap recycling, however, have historically been limited. Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ contracted recycler, Greenwaste, collects Blue Wrap as part of the service provided to the hospital, but passes the material along to a specialty film plastics recycler. Blue Wrap is collected at point of generation in a separate bag for easy retrieval by Greenwaste. While Stanford Hospital & Clinics works to effectively collect and recycle Blue Wrap, the institution has also minimized Blue Wrap use through a source waste reduction initiative. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.46.41](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/b66db872dc442f219ea45c3177e339e9466f73ee.png) The Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ Blue Wrap management strategy follows the progression of sustainable waste management protocol: reduce, reuse, and then recycle. This strategy includes use of durable stainless steel hard cases to house sterile surgical kits whenever possible. 60% of all surgical kits use hard cases, reserving Blue Wrap for kits containing delicate tools that require delicate encasement, and in heavy kits that would pose a lifting hazard for sterile processing and procedural area staff when housed in a heavy stainless steel case. ## Paper: 22% of total recyclables. Projected annual diversion: 18 tons. Recyclable paper in procedural areas includes surgical grade paper backing from peel packs, supply insert instruction manuals, and supply boxes. These materials are easily collected and processed. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.47.33](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/17c1cd29d34b6a325140dc0ea3ffb235b7045482.png) ## Film Plastics: 21% of total recyclables. Projected annual diversion: 17 tons. The large volume of individually wrapped, sterile supplies used during procedures drive the film plastic clinical recycling profile. Film plastics were categorized in the study as vent or header bags, chevron or 3D formed cavity peel packs, linear tear bags, and other film plastics. Procedural area film plastics by category follow. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.48.06](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/17c420ed570935aedd2348c6688d4fe98191bfd9.png) ## Vent Bags and Header Bags Vent bags are large, dense film plastic tear bags with a Tyvek® breather patch, commonly used as outer packaging of sterile surgical packs. While only two to three of these bags are generated during each case setup, vent bags represent 35% of procedural area film plastics by weight. These bags are easily collected during sterile field setup for recycling. Similar to vent bags, header bags feature a film plastic body, sealed with a Tyvek®header strip. A relatively small number of header bags were assessed in the procedural area setting, as packaging for sterile supplies. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.48.49](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/ce9989283a2f5885eae512a07523e9816074d8fd.png) ## Chevron and 3D-Formed Cavity Peel Packs Film plastic peel packs are sterile supply pouches with film plastic, surgical grade paper or Tyvek® backing. Individually packaged sterile supplies are largely contained in film plastic peel packs. During analysis of film plastics, these sterile packaging materials were further categorized as ‘chevron peel pack’ and ‘3D-‐formed cavity’ packaging. While chevron peel packs comprise 25% of film plastic packaging by weight, it should be noted that film plastic peel packs were separated into their disparate parts during analysis (i.e.: film plastic was separated from the Tyvek® or paper backing, and weighed by individual material type). While there were a limited selection of film/film plastic peel packs, most peel packs are one half Tyvek® or paper. 3D-formed cavity peel packs are denser by design, as film plastic is molded in the shape of the sterile supply it encases. The Stanford Hospital & Clinics waste analysis found a variety of flexible plastic formed cavity material, Tyvek® and paper peel packs. While 3D-formed cavity packaging represents a relatively smaller number of film plastic peel packs, Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ three procedural areas will divert approximately three tons of these items in the next year ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.49.36](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/b1a8b10abfbf8ffdd21f93c1d90f2907450731e7.png) This brings up a decision point in waste management protocol. We know that a large number of film plastics generated in the clinical setting are peel packs being opened during the rapid and efficient process of sterile field setup in procedural areas. Separation of peel packs into disparate parts (i.e.: Tyvek®, film plastic, paper) may produce a higher value material on the recyclables market. However, peel pack separation adds unwelcome complexity to the clinical waste management process at point of generation. Stanford Hospital & Clinics worked extensively with Greenwaste to establish a film plastic peel pack collection program that was feasible for both parties. This work is highlighted under ‘process recommendations’ in this document. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.50.13](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/f12e3cd1ade8062243df06a2482fbc9686fca768.png) ## Linear Tear Bags Linear tear bags are film plastic bags with a notched opening along the side. This packaging type varies in size and density in procedural areas, from the thin film plastic sleeves covering non-sterile products to the dense HDPE packaging of IV solution bags, to large tear bag over-wrap on sterile kits. These items are easily collected, easily processed, and free of contamination. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.51.38](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/9d11475a9e7be4d39d9fc0da8ff7db7e98d5b428.png) ## Other Film Plastics The remainder of film plastics includes ‘zip‐lock’ bags that carry medication deliveries from pharmacy, film over-wrap, unused sterile equipment covers, and film backing from adhesive pads. Again, these plastics are easily sorted into commingled recycling. This collection of various film plastics does comprise 8% of the film plastic recyclables by weight in procedural areas. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.56.34](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/5b853bd37fe12702d2a3180f3733779457a78e51.png) ## Rigid Plastics: 19% of total recyclables. Projected annual diversion: 16 tons. Rigid plastics in procedural areas make up the inner trays of sterile packs, rigid peel packs and sterile water bottles. While this category represents one-fifth the weight of procedural area recyclables, these dense materials represent a smaller number of packaging materials than film plastics. For our analysis, we categorized rigid plastics as follows: opaque (including white and dye-colored plastics), blue tint (PET), bottles, corrugated and other. ## Opaque Rigid Plastics This broad category of plastics includes opaque, or dye-‐colored, caps, lids and trays, accounting for almost one half of rigid plastics by weight. The high diversion rate, however, is attributed to one particular recyclable product in procedural areas. Weighing 0.4 lbs. each, light blue rigid plastic (polypropylene, #5) trays form the base of sterile packs commonly used in Cath-Angio, as well as other procedural areas. Cath-Angio alone will divert more than 3 tons of opaque rigid plastics over the next year, primarily due to recycled sterile blue trays. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.57.16](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/0fc7f26b3d63eeacde000039bc749e9ea0df75c7.png) ## Opaque Rigid Plastics This broad category of plastics includes opaque, or dye-‐colored, caps, lids and trays, accounting for almost one half of rigid plastics by weight. The high diversion rate, however, is attributed to one particular recyclable product in procedural areas. Weighing 0.4 lbs. each, light blue rigid plastic (polypropylene, #5) trays form the base of sterile packs commonly used in Cath-Angio, as well as other procedural areas. Cath-Angio alone will divert more than 3 tons of opaque rigid plastics over the next year, primarily due to recycled sterile blue trays. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.57.59](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/3f5b537115cdcc66826cca86e19bf6689d9fa4d1.png) ## Blue Tint Rigid PET packaging was identified by label (#1, PET), or by visual identification as a clear rigid material with characteristic blue tint. These materials were present throughout all three procedural areas as protective rigid product trays. PET trays are found in rigid peel packs (these are a common packaging item for sterile orthopedic surgical supplies), requiring processing at point of generation, as clinicians must separate Tyvek® or paper backing from packaging. The relatively small number of Blue Tint (PET) Rigid Plastic these peel packs as well as the sturdy frame of rigid packaging makes this process much easier compared with separation of film plastic peel packs. ## Bottles An average of one to two, one-liter bottles of sterile water are used per surgical procedure. Bottles are easily sorted into the recycling bag at case end. Stanford Hospital & Clinics keeps other recyclables clean and dry by emptying bottles of fluid or replacing the bottle cap before recycling. ## Corrugated and Other Rigid Plastics Few packaging materials in the study feature corrugated plastics. The material registered at 1% of total rigid plastics due to density versus prevalence. ‘Other Plastics’ largely represents clear or translucent rigid plastic trays, holding single use disposable supplies in surgical areas, including rigid inner trays and peel packs. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.58.52](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/cc3fe7aa6d85939937892fbe340334ef89d11c49.png) ## Tyvek®: 2% of total recyclables. Projected annual diversion: 2 tons. Tyvek® is a lightweight plastic barrier made from high-density polyethylene fibers, commonly used in medical packaging. Its durability, light weight, and moisture barrier properties make it an important part of the medical supply packaging profile. The Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ Cath-Angio department primarily uses supplies packaged in Tyvek®/film plastic peel packs. While the material is an ever-present part of the clinical recycling stream, it represents just 2% of procedural area recyclables by weight. ## Foil: 2% of total recyclables. Projected annual diversion: 2 tons. Foil is featured primarily as suture packaging in procedural areas. The small volume of foil packaging generated is easily sorted and processed. ![Screenshot 2026-10-20 at 21.59.29](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/uploads/ccn1/original/1X/207196debe064f255feed8cc06e5af9c3c014468.png) ---
**Author:** ![CCNDEV](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex006/user_avatar/discuss.compclassnotes.com/ccndev/32/100_2.png) [@CCNDEV](https://discuss.compclassnotes.com/u/CCNDEV)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 9:09pm UTC](https://discuss.compclassnotes.com/t/diversion-rates-mor-asc-cath-angio/469/2 "2026-10-20T21:09:13Z")
@Lucval @Garethj1 p10-14 Standford report, and you can extract from the post above and deposit into a smaller post. Please do not delete anything, simply make a new post and enter the lesser content manually ---
**Author:** ![Garethj1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df788c/32.png) [@Garethj1](https://discuss.compclassnotes.com/u/Garethj1)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://discuss.compclassnotes.com/t/diversion-rates-mor-asc-cath-angio/469/3 "2026-10-20T21:19:37Z")
fantastic, this will help alot