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Sustainability Around the Globe

Sustainability Around the Globe

Our commitment with sustainability

In Stericycle, we help our clients through solutions that protect people and brands, promote health and safeguard the environment.
Stericycle is committed looking for new opportunities for sustainable growth through the following:

Sustainability, business solutions for our customers.

Stericycle proudly offers a wide list of services specifically designed to help our customers to reach their “green” objectives, adhering to their regulatory compliance. Our sustainability solutions are:

Reusable sharp containers (Biosystem)

Disposal service (Sharps Management System) for hospitals utilizing ecological reusable containers. Those containers have already reduced the number of  employee’s accidents and have avoided that more than 140 million containers ended up in dumping sites.

Pharmaceutical waste solutions

Our pharmaceutical waste solutions are designed to avoid the permeation of these products into the phreatic surface. Stericycle offers services to doctors, hospitals, retail drugstores, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Retail Sustainability

Stericycle offers to the retail establishments, expert’s solutions for the right disposal of medical waste, including dangerous pharmaceutical waste, and keeping at the same time, strict compliance of regulatory requirements.

Manufacturer’s sustainability

Stericycle offers  services to handle the unsaleable products, derivatives and stock of manufacturers, distributors, and research & development centers (R+D). Our custom-made solutions are based on destruction and  disposal to minimize  the volume of waste, reducing disposal cost and maximizing  sustainable opportunities.

Our internal sustainability initiatives

Our internal sustainable services and activities are completely consistent with our main objective. Our company is always looking for new ways to reduce the environmental impact in all operational areas.
Our goal year by year, regarding reduction and recovery waste, is to consider a possible opportunity for recycling or alternative use.

Sustainability in our operations

Minimizing Incineration

Since 2001, we have been focused in reducing the use of incineration. We contribute in separating waste flows which reduces the  necessity of incineration; except when it is legally required. We have been able to close many of our incineration facilities, as well as helping hundreds of clients to do the same. In 2001, about 30% of the Stericycle’s treatments in America included incineration, and now it has been reduced to 10%.

Reusable containers for biological infectious waste

Reusable containers for medical waste are our favorite containers. We strongly recommend our customers to consider the use of reusable containers instead of corrugated cardboard boxes, in order to minimize deforestation. Since 2006, the programs that promote reusable bins amongst customers that generate the biggest amount of medical wastes, include hospitals and medical centers.

Corrugated cardboard recycling

Corrugated cardboard recycling is applied in most of our treatment facilities, being part of our experts of sustainability and the handling of unsaleable products, derivatives and default inventory.

Energy efficiency

We continually assess energy efficiency at Stericycle, and we also perform illumination monitoring in our facilities.

Exposed cauldron and adjustments

Our cauldron’s program is focused on maximization of its efficient use and minimizing energy consumption during inactivity.
Instead of diesel or propane, we use electric bucket elevators in our lease contracts. In addition those elevators eliminate fumes and gases in the environment of our facilities

Emissions control system

The use of modern systems to control emissions is essential in our commitment with fresh air standards.  Our facilities meet and even exceed state and local standards of atmosphere emissions. Our plant’s equipment constantly monitors the air’s quality.

Operation’s transport and sutainability

Hybrid Vehicles

During 2010 and 2011 we have introduced hybrid vehicles in trial in Stericycle. Now we are evaluating their fuel performance and general reliability, to guarantee the highest fuel efficiency.

Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles

During 2012 we introduced CNG vehicles in our fleet. Compared with diesel fuel, CNG generates less carbon emissions per kilometer. Once a technology is approved in our fleet, we are committed to move forward with new releases.

Advanced routing technology

The introduction of a new routing software about routing, enables us to plan our routes more efficient, with the same number of stops, fewer vehicles and miles driven.

The vehicle’s telemetry

We are currently evaluating the vehicle’s telemetry, a system that uses cell technology inside of each vehicle. This technology captures engine data and truck movements, focusing on security and fuel’s efficiency; agressive driving, speeding and inactivity times can be reduced. Preliminary results show that this technology may cause an extra 5% fuel saving over base lines.

Vehicle’s specifications

Our vehicle specifications play an important role in fuel reduction; we implement several vehicle controls in order to minimize environmental impact.

Speed governors

Speed regulators are used in our vehicles. This adjustment reduces the speed of top gear from 3 to 5 mph, resulting approximately from 0.5 to 1 miles per gallon (mpg) in additional fuel’s efficiency.

Predefined idle time

If the inactivity of a vehicle lasts five minutes, the preset contact will shut down the engine.

Automated manual transmissions

Automated manual transmissions within our trucks are standard, which increases the fuel’s efficiency in simple trucks more than 7%.

Cowling trucks and trailers

Cowling trucks and trailers deflect the wind and rain, reducing the friction and improving the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Our cowling trailers improve the fuel’s efficiency. In 2012 we added cowling to our long distance trucks.