Cutting waste in endoscopy: a multicentre observational study in the German healthcare system.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Endoscopic procedures are a notable source of medical waste, contributing significantly to environmental pollution. Prior studies report 0.5-3.0 kg of waste per procedure-compared with just 1.2 kg of household waste generated per person per day in Germany.

Objective

To quantify endoscopic waste in hospitals and outpatient settings, assess its impact on the healthcare system and identify strategies for reduction.

Design

This prospective, multicentre, observational study was conducted over 4 weeks in two tertiary hospitals and two gastroenterology offices. Waste from 2275 patients across 2889 procedures was collected, sorted, weighed and categorised for recyclability. National waste generation from GI endoscopy was estimated using published insurance data.

SUBMITTER: Welsch L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12703317 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature