6.3 Waste Reduction and Water Conservation
Zuoying Armed Forces General Hospital actively promotes environmental coexistence and policies for reducing waste and conserving water. To minimize resource waste and reduce environmental impact, we implement effective resource management measures in daily operations, including optimizing water usage and strengthening waste sorting and recycling.
In terms of waste reduction, we encourage both staff and patients to participate by reducing the use of disposable items and promoting the reuse and recycling of medical equipment, thereby minimizing the environmental impact of medical activities. At the same time, we actively adopt water-saving measures, such as installing water-saving devices and enhancing water resource management, to ensure optimal water use efficiency within the hospital.
Waste Management
The hospital’s waste consists mainly of medical waste, all of which is disposed of through professional channels. In 2024, the hospital generated a total of 780.76 metric tons of waste, including 659.83 metric tons of non-hazardous waste and 120.93 metric tons of hazardous waste. Non-hazardous waste accounted for 84.51% of the total. Regarding recycling and reuse, the hospital actively promotes the recycling of medical packaging materials (such as cardboard boxes), dialysis equipment, IV tubes, and other medical waste. In 2024, the resource recovery rate reached 2.73%.
To effectively prevent cross-contamination and protect the environment, Zuoying Armed Forces General Hospital has set up dedicated waste storage areas, divided into general waste and recyclable material storage, and biomedical waste storage. The biomedical waste storage area is equipped with a refrigerated room (kept below 5°C) and clearly labeled with the waste name and hazardous waste markings on the containers to ensure proper management. All waste is stored for no more than seven days, helping to reduce environmental impact and maintain high standards of hygiene.
The hospital places great importance on legal and compliant waste disposal, ensuring that all waste is handled by certified third-party waste disposal companies. Contractors are selected through open bidding, and all disposal vehicles are required to be equipped with GPS tracking systems to monitor the transportation process. This ensures that waste is safely and promptly delivered to designated incineration facilities. These measures not only guarantee transparency in waste handling but also reinforce the hospital’s commitment to environmental protection and regulatory compliance.
Water Resource Management
Zuoying Armed Forces General Hospital is located in Zuoying District, Kaohsiung City. Its tap water supply comes from the Pingding Water Purification Plant, which draws water from the Kaohsiung Pingtung River. In 2024, the hospital’s total water intake was 0.14 million liters, and its total discharge was 0.11 million liters. According to the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas, the hospital is located in a medium-to-low water risk area, indicating stable and responsible water use and management. As a responsible medical institution, Zuoying Armed Forces General Hospital values the efficient use of water resources and continues to work on water conservation and protection to ensure the sustainability of both medical services and the environment.
Since 2020, the hospital has actively promoted the construction of a separate sewer system and has cooperated with the Kaohsiung City Government to help solve water pollution problems. In 2024, the Kaohsiung Environmental Protection Bureau officially removed the hospital from its “Business and Sewer Wastewater Management System” and canceled its surface water discharge permit. Because of this change, the hospital has not installed a wastewater flow meter and is therefore unable to report the actual annual water use and discharge data directly. To improve transparency, the hospital follows the Ministry of Economic Affairs’ regulations on sewer use and fees in industrial parks, estimating discharge volume as 80% of water intake. All industrial wastewater is discharged into the Kaohsiung City sewer system, and water quality is regularly sampled and tested by certified environmental inspection agencies approved by the Water Resources Bureau to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
As a healthcare provider, the hospital understands the importance of sanitary and sufficient water resources in delivering quality medical services. To conserve water, we have adjusted the operating hours of our air conditioning systems to reduce the consumption of cooling water. Each ton of air conditioning operation per hour saves approximately 8.86 liters of tap water, reflecting the hospital’s ongoing commitment to water conservation and environmental protection.
