Waste Reduction Week challenge complete, but why not do the quiz anyway?

Though the 2022 #WasteReductionWeek Inter-Hospital Challenge is now complete, it's still worthwhile. This 3 minute challenge will show what a Waste Warrior you are and what could improve using the 5R's: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse/Repair, Recycle, Rot (aka: compost).

Note the quiz recycling rules are for workplaces which may differ from home. Question on the quiz? Contact green@uhn.ca

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* 1. Where do you work?

Department (optional)

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* 2. REFUSE: Which do you do?

Ask to skip the straw when ordering a beverage

When ordering food, ask them not to send plastic cutlery if you have reusable cutlery

Say no to unwanted condiments/extras

Say no to free but junky giveaways. e.g. buttons, stress balls

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* 3. REDUCE: Which do you do?

avoid unnecessary packaging ... like bananas wrapped in plastic

maintain & repair instead of buying new ... like clothes & appliances

borrow/rent occasionally-used things ... like decorations or tools

choose fewer but better-made things that last longer ... look for longer warranties

think "do I need this?" before buying, then act accordingly

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* 4. REUSE: Which of these do you use or buy? (Most vendors have restarted reusable programs)

reusable mug

reusable water bottle

reusable food containers

reusable cutlery

reusable bags

pre-loved clothing from friends, second-hand shops, garage sales, online markets

pre-loved furniture and appliances from friends, second-hand shops, garage sales, online markets

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* 5. RECYCLE: Which do you recycle?
(protip: recycling rules may be different at your workplace, so look at the signs at your location, or ask your green rep listed at the end).

cans and bottles

juice-boxes & milk cartons (trash the straw)

paper & cardboard

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* 6. RECYCLE Beyond the Blue Bin: How many of these items do you send for special return/recycling programs (not the regular recycling bin)? Also score yourself a point if you don't use these at all.

e-Waste (computers, cell phones, printers etc.)

toner cartridges: used toner return shelf to send back to vendor, or mail back to vendor (place old toner in new toner box with return shipping label)

batteries

medication (pharmaceutical waste bins or back to any drugstore)

paint/harsh cleaners/CFL's (Household HAZARDOUS Waste)

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* 7. ROT: Which do you put in the compost bin at work?

food waste

coffee grounds & tea bags (not coffee pods)

items with the "compostable" symbol (if your site allows)

napkins, tissue and paper towels (if your site allows)

my site does not have a compost program, so I take compostable waste home (boomerang lunch)

I don't compost

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* 8. LANDFILL - Which do you dispose of in trash, or avoid using?
Use "at work" rules. These are not recyclable at most hospitals, though some might be at home. Keep trash in the trash so that blue bins and green bins don't end up in the trash too.

plastic bags and soft plastics/wrap (may be recyclable at home, but not at most hospitals)

straws and plastic cutlery

black plastic, e.g. black take-out containers, black coffee cup lids (not brown), black cutlery

paper coffee cups (rarely recyclable)

styrofoam take-out containers (may be recyclable at home, but not at most hospitals)

PPE: gloves, masks, bouffant caps, booties
(if contaminated with biomedical waste, place in biomedical waste container.)
(some PPE is reusable and does not go in trash - see your site for details)

coffee pods (even if labeled “recyclable”, rarely accepted)

chip bags or candy bar wrappers

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* 9. What do you do with excess medical supplies or other random materials? (e.g. furniture, equipment, etc.)?

My department collects surplus medical supplies for "Operation Green", who then collects monthly and donates to communities in need around the globe

If we have excess furniture or stuff, my department posts it first internally on the hospital Message Board, then externally on the Materials Exchange Program

We try to donate items and then throw it out if we can't find anyone to take them

We throw our excess medical supplies or furniture in the landfill

Something else?

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* 10. Of these, which of the following 6 single-use plastics will be banned in Canada (roll out from December 2022-2025)? Select all that apply
Hint: these are the top offenders found on our shorelines. They are hard to recycle, damage the environment and negatively impact human health.

Plastic checkout bags (point of sale)

Plastic cutlery

Styrofoam or black plastic plates, cups, bowls

Plastic ring carriers (drinks)

Plastic bottles

Plastic stir sticks

Plastic straws (Exceptions for accessibility needs)

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* 11. Clinical Staff Bonus Question: Biomedical waste is the most expensive, energy intensive and air polluting mode of waste. Which of these do you practice to minimize biomedical waste?

Only put biomedical waste in the biomedical waste containers

Never put garbage or recycling in biomedical waste bins, e.g. packaging

Don't under-fill biomedical waste bins before closing (less efficient), but don't overfill either (safety issue)

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* 12. Any last thoughts on waste reduction?

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* 13. Are you on the Green Team?

Yes!

No thanks

Not yet, though I'd like to hear more about it. Please email me

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Caught green-handed! We would love to see a picture of you and/or your friends practicing the 5R's. Please email it to green@uhn.ca or your site lead to get featured on our website! Click the "Done" button below to complete your challenge.

<span style="color: #333333;">Caught <strong><span style="color: #339966;">green-handed</span></strong>! We would love to see a picture of you and/or your friends practicing the 5R's. Please email it to green@uhn.ca or your site lead to get featured on our website! Click the "Done" button below to complete your challenge.</span>

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100% of survey complete.

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* 1. Where do you work?

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* 2. REFUSE: Which do you do?

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* 3. REDUCE: Which do you do?

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* 4. REUSE: Which of these do you use or buy? (Most vendors have restarted reusable programs)

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* 5. RECYCLE: Which do you recycle? (protip: recycling rules may be different at your workplace, so look at the signs at your location, or ask your green rep listed at the end).

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* 6. RECYCLE Beyond the Blue Bin: How many of these items do you send for special return/recycling programs (not the regular recycling bin)? Also score yourself a point if you don't use these at all.

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* 7. ROT: Which do you put in the compost bin at work?

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* 8. LANDFILL - Which do you dispose of in trash, or avoid using? Use "at work" rules. These are not recyclable at most hospitals, though some might be at home. Keep trash in the trash so that blue bins and green bins don't end up in the trash too.

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* 9. What do you do with excess medical supplies or other random materials? (e.g. furniture, equipment, etc.)?

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* 10. Of these, which of the following 6 single-use plastics will be banned in Canada (roll out from December 2022-2025)? Select all that apply Hint: these are the top offenders found on our shorelines. They are hard to recycle, damage the environment and negatively impact human health.

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* 11. Clinical Staff Bonus Question: Biomedical waste is the most expensive, energy intensive and air polluting mode of waste. Which of these do you practice to minimize biomedical waste?

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* 12. Any last thoughts on waste reduction?

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* 13. Are you on the Green Team?

Question Title

Caught green-handed! We would love to see a picture of you and/or your friends practicing the 5R's. Please email it to green@uhn.ca or your site lead to get featured on our website! Click the "Done" button below to complete your challenge.

* 5. RECYCLE: Which do you recycle?
(protip: recycling rules may be different at your workplace, so look at the signs at your location, or ask your green rep listed at the end).

* 8. LANDFILL - Which do you dispose of in trash, or avoid using?
Use "at work" rules. These are not recyclable at most hospitals, though some might be at home. Keep trash in the trash so that blue bins and green bins don't end up in the trash too.

* 10. Of these, which of the following 6 single-use plastics will be banned in Canada (roll out from December 2022-2025)? Select all that apply
Hint: these are the top offenders found on our shorelines. They are hard to recycle, damage the environment and negatively impact human health.