Healthcare Environmental Resource Center (HERC)

Healthcare Environmental Resource Center

This site provides pollution prevention and compliance assistance information for the healthcare sector. It is intended to be a comprehensive resource, covering all the varieties of hospital wastes, and all the rules that apply to them, including both federal regulations and the specific rules that apply in your state. If you see any topics that are not covered, or if you have any suggestions for making this site more useful, please let us know.

For more information, or to pass along suggestions, please contact:

NCMS (734) 995-4911 or
EPA (202) 564-8849

*News & Events*
05/03/09 Hospitals go green across the U.S. [more ]

The HERCenter has special pages covering your state's rules for the following topics:

What's New on HERC

New Library Feature added to HERC

EPA proposes to add Hazardous Pharmaceutical Waste to Universal Waste Rule. See Fact Sheet.

Updated August 2008! For help in developing a waste management program for pharmaceuticals, see Managing Pharmaceutical Waste - A 10 Step Blueprint for Healthcare Facilities in the United States provided by Practice Greenhealth.

Disposal of Unused Medications
—Advice for Households
This fact sheet provides guidance to private citizens on ways to safely dispose of unused medications.

Dental Wastes: This fact sheet HERC provides is an overview of best management practices for handling and recycle/disposal of wastes commonly generated at dental offices, including amalgam, x-ray wastes, cleaners, etc. More...

Epinephrine Fact Sheet: This fact sheet provides information to assist healthcare facilities with hazardous waste determinations regarding epinephrine wastes (PO42). PDF

Need help in carrying out your waste reduction, mercury elimination, or environmental compliance program? Practice Greenhealth can show you the way.