Environmental Group Urges Stericycle to Clean Up

Danielle Jackson

Washington, D.C. -- Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) has published a report on medical waste disposal giant Stericycle Inc., Lake Forest, Ill., urging the company to clean up its disposal practices.

The report questions Stericycle's continued use of incineration despite the availability of what HCWH claims are cleaner and safer medical waste disposal technologies. Stericycle stated in its 2001 annual report that its 11 incinerators were well-maintained, but HCWH disagrees, noting that the facilities have been plagued with problems and that incineration is linked with dioxin, a known carcinogen.

HCWH also notes that Stericycle has failed to keep toxic mercury and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastics out of the waste stream, and profiles recent regulatory enforcement allegations regarding Stericycle's workplace safety and health issues.

The report, entitled "Stericycle: Living Up to its Mission?" is available online at www.noharm.org.