AS the country celebrates Earth Month, Nurse Susie, the official mascot of the Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project (HCWM Project), visited Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Tuguegarao City, as part of a series of hospital roadshows advocating for waste reduction, especially plastic waste, and environmentally sustainable practices in hospitals.
“This Earth Month 2026, we highlight the need to champion sustainable practices in hospitals to limit the negative impacts of healthcare waste on human health and the environment. This includes reducing the use of plastics, especially single-use items that make up a large share of waste generated in hospitals,” said Jam Lorenzo, HCWM Project manager and BAN Toxics’ Deputy Executive Director.
A waste audit conducted by the project last year across three of its six partner hospitals, including CVMC, found that plastics accounted for more than 75% of waste generated. According to Lorenzo, plastic waste is a source of toxic pollutants in the environment. “When burned, plastics can emit unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (UPOPs) such as dioxins and furans, which can cause illnesses ranging from skin diseases to damage to the immune and endocrine systems, and cancer.”
For CVMC, the initial audit report shows that plastics comprised 77% of its total waste, largely driven by patient-care and daily-use disposables. Sanitary products such as diapers and sanitary napkins, infectious waste materials such as cotton, gauze, and wipes, and medical textiles such as aprons, masks, and gloves together make up more than half of total plastic generation. Meanwhile, non-medical sources such as plastic foodware and bottles significantly contribute to the overall plastic waste generation.
CVMC has been implementing a single-use plastics ban in its facility since January 2023, and showed the lowest plastic waste generation among the three partner hospitals where the audit was conducted, compared to 78% at Eastern Visayas Medical Center (EVMC) and 84% at Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC). Last year, CVMC secured the highest rating in the Department of Health (DOH) 2025 Green and Safe Health Facilities Recognition, earning a 5-Star Rating with a score of 97.49% across all Green Viability Assessment Tool Performance Standards. Nurse Susie’s visit recognized CMVCs efforts while reinforcing the call for continued waste reduction in the hospital.
During the roadshow, the team distributed reusable water containers, flyers, posters, and hand fans containing information on Nurse Susie’s advocacy. Nurse Susie is the face of the Toxics-Free Hospitals Campaign, the HCWM Project’s initiative promoting waste minimization and proper healthcare waste management. The campaign encourages healthcare facilities to adopt more sustainable practices through its 4Cs framework — Change old habits, Cut plastics, Commit to reuse, and Champion sustainability.
Implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in partnership with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the HCWM Project aims to strengthen healthcare waste management nationwide, with a special focus on reducing emissions of hazardous substances such as dioxins and furans and ensuring the safe and proper disposal of mercury. The project receives funding support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and is being executed by environmental NGO BAN Toxics.
As part of its efforts to reduce plastic waste, the project also plans to engage small manufacturers and women enterprises in the production of reusable fabric non-medical PPEs based on WHO guidelines, promoting locally made, sustainable alternatives to single-use items. Beyond plastics reduction, one of the project’s key interventions is the adoption of low- or zero-emission non-burn waste treatment technologies in healthcare facilities, aimed at reducing the release of toxic and hazardous chemicals into the environment.
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