Reasons for Change

By assessing and implementing one or more of the practices described here and on the accompanying downloadable table, health care facilities can enjoy:

• Reduced regulatory obligations and oversight, by reducing quantities of anesthetic gases, containers and filters that must be managed as dangerous waste.

• Increased safety and reduced risks for patients, staff, visitors and the community, by reducing and eliminating air emissions from anesthetic gases.

• Pollution prevention and improved cost savings by maintaining anesthetic services in optimal waste-free condition

Opportunities for Action

Specific tips on ways Anesthesia Service providers can reduce and prevent toxic wastes and resource inefficiencies are listed in this fact sheet’s downloadable/printable table.  A sampling of these tips is listed below. 

Basic Best Management Practices for Anesthesia Services

• Minimize excess inventory

• Use oldest product inventory first

• Do not dispose of liquid & gas wastes down the drain or in the trash.

• Use filters appropriate for gases being used.

• Use scavenging units to collect fugitive anesthetic gases.

• Use and maintain low-leak equipment.

• Properly manage the waste (including filters and filter media/absorbents) and spill clean-up materials as dangerous waste.

• Return compressed gas containers to vendor for reuse or proper disposal 

Next Steps to Improve Anesthesia Service Practices

• Purchase compressed gas cylinders only from vendors and manufacturers who will accept empty bottles for return and refilling.

• Use non-barium-containing soda lime (carbon dioxide) absorbent.