Sustainability Committee – "GreenWorks"

Environment-friendly Practices at the Medical Center

In June of 2008, the Medical Center formed a sustainability committee called GreenWorks, and gathered volunteers to help create and implement practices to become more environment-friendly.  What you may not know, is there are numberous ways this is already happening.

As of January 2008, the Institutional Review Board completed its goal to become completely paperless.  This department's effort saved 4,746,516 sheets of paper from 2002 to 2007.

A few of the many other sustainable efforts already underway at the Medical Center include collecting hazardous and chemical wastes for proper environmental disposal by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S).  Used batteries can be recycled by bringing them to EHS's collection office on the E-floor of the Commons Building.  Laser printer toner cartridges can also be recycled by dropping them into one of the toner recycle bins located on the M-floor of the West Building, in the tunnel to the Sticht Center and in the sub-basement of the North Tower.  Used flourescent light bulbs are collected and disposed of properly because they contain mercury.  In fact, the Medical Center is already largely mercury-free and ongoing purchases are screened for mercury.

In addition, the Medical Center contracts with an outside company to shred and bale all confidential paper that is placed into the appropriate bins.  These efforts have significantly reduced the Medical Center's landfill footprint.  Paper that is shredded by office shredders will be bagged as normal trash and go into the landfill.

The sustainability committee will bring new ideas to our current recycling, purchasing, and water and energy saving practices to help the Medical Center continue to "go green".

• Reduce the use of electricity. Turn off lights that are not needed. At the end of the day, turn off your computer’s monitor and printer.
• Reduce the use of water. When washing your hands, turn off the water while you scrub … every little bit can help.
• Reduce plastics. Use a filtered water pitcher instead of buying bottled water. GreenWorks is currently working on a recycling program for plastics and aluminum. Look for more information coming soon.
• Reduce gasoline use. Carpool! The Medical Center has a carpooling program where you can be connected to others who live in your area and would like to share a ride to and from work.
• Recycle cardboard. Cardboard can be placed in designated areas and labeled "recycle."
• Recycle your used toner cartridges. Place your used toner cartridge in the box your new toner cartridge came in, label the box "recycle" and put it in interoffice mail.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle your paper. Click "Print Preview" and only print those pages you really need. Use the back of scrap paper to take notes.
• Cintas bins can now be used to recycle all paper.