In an example of student-led innovation, a team from the Bieler School of Environment has launched a series of sustainability initiatives at Montreal’s Jewish General Hospital, reshaping how healthcare institutions approach environmental responsibility. The project has gained attention and is poised to influence broader systemic change across the institution.
This year’s focus: reducing plastic and other waste in the hospital’s pharmacy.
The initiative began in the Environment 401 course, where students are encouraged to tackle real-world environmental challenges through community collaboration. One of the most visible successes has been the replacement of single-use plastic bags with reusable clips in clinical settings. This change, enthusiastically adopted by hospital staff, is expected to eliminate approximately 18,000 plastic bags annually—a significant reduction for a single institution.
Abby Levine, a fourth-year BSE student, shared her experience:
“It became really clear to us when we were doing our hospital visits and speaking to pharmacists—there was a lot of energy and desire to work towards more sustainable measures, just not enough time to implement the ideas.”
The students also addressed the environmental impact of disposable medical devices, focusing on inhalers used in pulmonary function testing labs. Collaborating with the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Respiratory Physiology teams, they developed and secured approval for a new protocol allowing inhalers to be reused up to 40 times before disposal. Previously, these devices were discarded after a single use.
In July, the team presented their project at the Canadian Society of Healthcare Systems Professional Practice Conference, showcasing months of collaboration, experimentation, and advocacy. Their work was also featured on the CASCADES website, a national platform for climate action in healthcare, further amplifying their impact.
Stefanie Lam, a clinical pharmacist and member of the hospital’s Pharmacy Green Committee, served as the students’ main contact. She noted:
“Working with the students allowed us to get a fresh pair of eyes and a different perspective.”
Alongside the reuse protocol, the students helped launch an inhaler recycling program. Collection boxes are now being installed in the respirology department and clinical wards, allowing used inhalers to be returned to manufacturers for material recovery. This not only conserves resources but also prevents residual greenhouse gases from leaking into the atmosphere. With up to 8,000 inhalers expected to be recycled annually in just these two departments, the environmental benefits are substantial.
The team also tackled waste sorting. Last semester, they conducted a comprehensive audit and worked with hospital staff to redesign signage and reposition bins, making it easier for employees to sort waste correctly. The results were dramatic: the rate of mis-sorted recycling dropped from 40% to just 8%, significantly improving the hospital’s waste management efficiency.
As the healthcare sector continues to grapple with its environmental footprint, projects like this offer a hopeful glimpse into what’s possible when education, science, and community engagement come together.