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Collecting & Managing Data:Collecting & Managing Data:Why Bother?Why Bother?

John LeighRecycling & Waste Management CoordinatorDartmouth-Hitchcock Medical CenterLebanon, New Hampshire

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AgendaAgenda

Data, What Data? Why? What am I going to do with it? Okay then, how do I collect it without having it

take up all my time? Once gathered, how do I make sense of it? Can’t I just steal your spreadsheet template and

modify it for my own program? (yes!) Walk me through a spreadsheet? Yuck! Lots of Q & A

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What kind of data? What kind of data?

Amount of waste –Weight By Category & Material Type CostsRevenuesAvoided costsUltimately calculate:

– Rates– Trends– Future estimates

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Collecting data allows you to:Collecting data allows you to:

Establish a baselineTrack changes (generation, costs,

composition)Generate ideas, prioritize actions, set goalsMeasure progress, see what needs more

attentionQuantify, report & celebrate achievements

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Good data management allows you to…Good data management allows you to…

Utilize information for decision makingBetter manage your:

– Haulers– Processors– Equipment– Budget

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Good data management allows you to…Good data management allows you to…

Advocate environmental initiatives backed by cost avoidance figures

Justify:– Labor requests– Capital expenditures– Space requests– A new waste management position!

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Ultimately, one can…Ultimately, one can…

Track generation rates & changes by department

Track generation rates on a per hospital activity basis

Compare with other hospitalsCompare with national averages

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Make data collection easier…Make data collection easier…

Unbundle hauler charges (know your fees/rates for hauling, tipping, processing, equipment leasing)

Pay by weight, not volume or frequencyGet comfortable with MS ExcelBuy a good scale and weigh as much as is

practical

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ResourcesResources

H2E’s Self Assessment Guide www.h2e-online.org/pubs/selfasmt.pdfEPA’s Vol.-to-Weight Conversion Factorswww.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/recycle/recmeas/docs/guide_b.pdf(link to full Recycling Measurement Guide:)www.epa.gov/recycle.measure/download.htm