The Green Healthcare programme was funded by the HSE Capital and Estates Sustainable Infrastructure Office up until the end of 2025. More information about the HSE’s continuing work on different aspects of their Climate Action Strategy, which aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and provide healthcare that is environmentally and socially sustainable, is available HERE.
The Green Healthcare programme’s aims were to help prevent waste (including food, general and clinical waste), to increase recycling, and to reduce water consumption in Irish Hospitals. Since 2009, the programme provided direct advice and assistance to many Irish healthcare facilities that joined the programme, including on-site surveys, benchmarking, water sub-metering, and customised advice.
In addition, the programme produced publications and guidance on a number of areas including best practices in relation to water and waste, benchmarks for water and waste, factsheets, and case studies of Irish healthcare facilities.
The programme was originally initiated under the EPA’s National Waste Prevention Programme (NWPP). This first phase, which was co-funded by the HSE for much of its duration, ran from 2009 to 2019.
If you would like more information on any aspect of the programme, please visit the HSE’s Climate Change and Health resource.