14 Years of History on Sustainability: Waste Management FMUSP/IMT/SVOC

Abstract

High regulation in environmental protection and sustainability was established in Brazil around 2003. From that time, the board of directors of the Faculty of Medicine, Tropical Medicine Institute, Death Verification Service, and Medical Investigation Laboratories, of the University of São Paulo created the Waste Management Committee to organize and implement actions to comply with Brazilian legislation. This paper outlines the main actions taken by the Committee and Board of directors of the institutions, presenting it in ages. During the first five years were developed works to know the passive/regular discharge of infectious agents, chemicals, radioactive compounds, recyclable and common garbage. From this data, were constructed stations for provisory disposal, transportation flow and general rules were established, and training was given to staff and students. During the following five years, or in the second phase of actions plans, efforts were focused on improving the management of the process and increasing the gathering of recyclable materials. Now, in the third phase, actions have been developed aiming to eliminate devices that use mercury and mercury vapor lamps from FMUSP building; furthermore, composting of food and garden material is in the evaluation process. These actions gave to FMUSP two Prize Friend of the Environment (2010 and 2016), offered by Health Secretary of São Paulo State, and these experience will be shared in this paper. However, it is necessary to have in mind that this work was done under Brazilian regulations, but certainly, it can be adjusted to all countries.