Background
Organizations are recognizing the importance of protecting the environment as an integral part of sustaining their business operations and are committing to improving environmental performance. Focusing on environmental sustainability is also playing a pivotal role in enhancing corporate responsibility.
Risks arising from environmental degradation have also led various stakeholders, including regulators, investors, customers, employees and the public at large, to urge businesses to identify, measure, monitor and reduce their natural resource consumption, pollution and waste generation.
Industrial waste has the potential to cause significant damage to terrestrial and marine vegetation and wildlife, adversely impacting biodiversity. Improper disposal of waste causes air, water and soil contamination, resulting in a negative impact on the environment. Improper waste disposal can also cause an increase in disease-causing agents, thus having a negative impact on human health. As the health care industry grows globally, so does the cost to administer health care and the environmental impact on health care. Hence, the health care industry must play a pivotal role to monitor, measure and reduce its waste generation for the benefit of the planet and society at large.
Commitment
- As an environmentally responsible organization, Pediatrix® Medical Group is committed to the implementation and maintenance of measures to manage and dispose of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes generated at all facilities under its direct control.
- Pediatrix will practice responsible waste management in all locations and facilities under its direct control.
- Pediatrix will encourage responsible waste management in other locations and facilities where Pediatrix has no direct control, but conducts business operations.
Purpose
Pediatrix acknowledges the environmental and health risks arising from inappropriate handling, storage, and disposal of hazardous and non-hazardous waste. Although Pediatrix doesn’t have significant waste generated from its operations and at locations and facilities under its direct control, it acknowledges the environmental impact arising from industrial waste and seeks to do its part to reduce it.
Pediatrix will:
- Measure the hazardous and non-hazardous wastes generated at the locations and facilities under its direct control
- Disclose on waste management key performance indicators as required by applicable rules and regulations or as approved by the ESG Executive Oversight Committee
- Aim to increase awareness of appropriate management of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes generated in all regions of operations through open and transparent communication with all stakeholders, including but not limited to, associates, physicians, patients, shareholders and the general public
Objective
- Follow a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle strategy with regards to waste management
- Stabilize and reduce any hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated at locations and facilities under its direct control
- Develop a monitoring and measuring framework for hazardous and non-hazardous waste management
- Set goals and measurable targets to reduce hazardous and non-hazardous waste generation with an aim to continuously improve
Approach
Pediatrix will adopt the following multi-mode approach for hazardous and non-hazardous waste management:
Identification
- Identify all streams of waste generated at locations and facilities under its direct control and classify them as hazardous or non-hazardous waste
Segregation, Storage, Handling and Disposal
- Ensure that proper segregation of hazardous and non-hazardous waste is always followed
- Develop, implement and refine strategies and systems to ensure proper waste segregation, storage, handling, and disposal
- Adopt environmentally sound and safe disposal of hazardous waste through only legally authorized channels of disposal
Reduction
- Promote practices that reduce the volume of hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated
- Identify areas of improvement in its business operations, wherever financially viable, to reduce the amount of hazardous and non-hazardous waste generated and utilize the most modern and efficient technology and equipment
Responsible Work Practices
- Promote adoption of safe practices while handling and disposing of hazardous waste
- Build a comprehensive waste management approach, addressing responsibilities and resource allocation for handling, and disposing of hazardous and non-hazardous waste
- Select and promote safe and environmentally friendly options to protect stakeholders from hazards arising from collection, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste
- Implement waste management oversight for locations and facilities under its direct control with the aim to implement and maintain strong organizational oversight over hazardous and non-hazardous waste management
- Implement an annual training and education program to raise awareness among associates of the risks arising from improper waste segregation, handling, storage and disposal
- Explore opportunities to reuse, recover and recycle non-hazardous waste
- Assess the amount of waste being sent to landfills and incinerated and explore alternate, environmentally friendly options for disposal of these wastes
- Stay updated on all relevant local, state, and federal waste management standards
Applicability
- The policy shall be applicable at all locations and facilities of Pediatrix under its direct control.
- For entities and stakeholders with which Pediatrix conducts business, but that do not fall under its administrative control, Pediatrix shall communicate and promote, through its associates, the alignment of procedures and policies with those of Pediatrix.
Action Plan
- Pediatrix will strategize and implement relevant waste reduction and management activities to execute organizational objectives in accordance with this policy.
- Pediatrix plans to set goals and targets related to waste reduction.
Responsibility
The ESG Executive Oversight Committee under the supervision of the CEO/ Board of Directors is responsible for the overall implementation of the items stated in this policy.
Compliance
Pediatrix will ensure that it complies with all applicable local, state, and federal waste management laws and regulations including the disposal of waste only through authorized waste management agencies.
Review
The policy shall be reviewed at least once every three years or more frequently, as required. The policy will be reviewed and approved by the ESG Executive Oversight Committee to ensure that it meets all regulatory and business requirements.