The purpose of healthcare systems is to restore health and save patients’ lives. In healthcare settings, the generation of medical waste is inevitable, and its improper management poses substantial environmental and health risks to health personnel and communities. . Prior to 1997, over 90% of hospital medical waste was incinerated . The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promulgated stringent emission standards in August 1997, which resulted in a significant reduction in medical waste incinerators in the United States. Despite the EPA’s efforts, there are nine (9) hospital waste medical waste incinerators located in disadvantaged communities in the United States . Medical waste is made up of approximately 25% plastic, which makes it toxic to burn. When plastic is incinerated, mercury and dioxins are emitted into the air. These pollutants pose a tremendous risk for those who live and work near incinerators because historic risk assessments suggest that there are concerns with pollution control which lead to higher concentrations of toxic emissions. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is committed to reducing waste efforts from its operations across its real estate profile, which includes hospital, outpatient healthcare facility, and laboratory facilities that represents 64% of HHS’ real property inventory (21.7 million gross square feet). While keeping environmental justice at the forefront of efforts, this poster highlights key initiatives within the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a Division within HHS, to provide comprehensive waste management services for solid and medical pathological waste and recycling to mitigate the harmful effects of pollution on human health and the environment while complying with all local, state, and federal regulations.