Product End-of-Life

The responsible treatment of healthcare products at the end of their useful life is an emerging issue worldwide. The appropriate approach varies by type of product, so Baxter has a range of initiatives. For example, many of the electronic medical devices Baxter sells, such as Renal Automated Peritoneal Dialysis cyclers, are well suited to repair and refurbishment after the original customer has finished using them. Other products, such as intravenous (IV) bags, cannot be reused but may be responsibly recycled to recapture materials for other uses.

Electronic Products

Baxter has programs to refurbish and return electronic products to use when possible, and to recycle those products when reuse is not feasible.

Repair and Refurbishment

In some countries, Baxter leases most of its electronic medical products to customers, which helps ensure they will be returned to Baxter after a set period of time. Repair and refurbishment extends a product's useful life and decreases the environmental impacts associated with product disposal and the manufacture of new products.

Recycling

Regulations worldwide reflect the recent focus on electronic product recycling. For example, the European Union Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive requires companies to arrange for the take-back of electronic products at end-of-life to enable the recovery and recycling of product components and materials. It impacts a range of Baxter products in Europe, including dialysis machines, IV pumps and other electronic devices. Baxter is in full compliance in all EU member states where the regulations have been adopted and has joined appropriate compliance programs. In 2010, 32 metric tons of electronic products were recovered on Baxter's behalf through these programs in Europe.

Also in 2010, Baxter updated its WEEE website that provides customers detailed information on WEEE and how to dispose of Baxter products in accordance with the EU WEEE Directive. Baxter added a link to the website to provide customers with information about how to recycle Baxter products covered by the WEEE Directive in each of 26 countries.

When customers return products to Baxter that contain batteries, or when Baxter repairs those products on-site, Baxter sends the batteries to a recycler whenever feasible, or provides for responsible disposal. Baxter has a global audit program covering all regulated or medical waste recycling or disposal sites that Baxter uses for waste generated internally. As part of this program, trained Baxter auditors assess battery recycling sites before using the vendor and then at least once every four years to ensure they comply with Baxter's requirements and conduct their operations responsibly. These audits examine all aspects of operations, including site history, regulatory compliance, financial conditions, insurance, and other factors.

Disposable Medical Waste

Baxter has worked with customers, other companies in the industry, and recycling and disposal vendors to facilitate the recycling and responsible treatment of disposable medical products. The company was a charter member of the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC), an alliance of global healthcare companies focused on the recycling of plastic products in hospitals. Baxter discontinued its membership in 2010, as the HPRC is currently focused solely on pre-patient contact materials. As such, Baxter products such as IV bags and administration sets are out of scope.

Baxter continues to look for other opportunities to partner with waste management and recycling firms to test the economic and logistical feasibility of more efficient management of wastes generated from Baxter IV products. Possibilities include creating products from recycled materials that can be reused in the medical supply chain, such as plastic pallets made from mixed IV bags or packaging.

In Ireland, Baxter launched a program in 2007 with local waste management contractors to provide pick-up services at patient residences for home-use oncology and general compounded products such as vials, needles and drugs that cannot be processed with regular municipal waste. The contractors collect, process and dispose of the products as required by law¹, while protecting patient confidentiality and privacy. This provides a valued service to patients and communities while ensuring environmentally responsible waste disposal.

Building on the original initiative, in 2008 Baxter launched a similar program for Renal products supplied to Baxter home dialysis patients in Ireland, and in 2009 the company extended the program to all home patient therapies in the country. Materials classified as "clinical" waste such as over pouches, bags, cassettes and shields are processed as described in footnote.¹ The program also collects recyclable materials such as cardboard from patients' homes where local authorities don't offer this service, decreasing the amount of these materials that go to disposal.

In 2010, Baxter provided waste-collection services to more than 700 home patients in Ireland. Some of the waste collected is used to fuel furnaces in an Irish cement factory, reducing the amount of waste sent to landfill. For these efforts, Baxter Ireland was recognized as a finalist in both the Envirocom Awards, supported by a local chamber of commerce, and the Repak Ireland National Awards, a national government waste prevention and recycling initiative, in 2010.

1	Oncology products are classed as "hazardous" waste in Ireland which requires specialized incineration. Non-hazardous medical waste is classed as "clinical" waste and is sterilized and shredded before the material is accepted for landfill.