An anesthetic gas scavenging system is provided. The system includes a housing having one or more apertures placed proximate to a patient's mouth and a vacuum source interconnected with the housing for excavating anesthesia exhaled by the patient. The housing can take the form of a circular tube and can be positioned to rest about a patient's neck. The housing can have closed ends attachable together about a patient's neck. Alternatively, the housing can take on other desired shapes, and can be suspended on a strap about a patient's neck to rest on the patient's chest.