Expanded Green Initiatives for Region’s Leading Provider of Post-Acute Care for Children Include New Shredding and Recycling Program
Bayside, NY, April 15, 2008 – St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children, the region’s leading provider of pediatric post-acute care, is emerging as a leader of another kind as it continues to take steps to make its inpatient facilities in Bayside and Ossining leaders in environmentally-friendly healthcare. St. Mary’s, which has previously received a number of awards for its “Green” initiatives, announced today that it is implementing a new shredding and recycling program on its Bayside campus in time for Earth Day.
“At St. Mary’s we are continuously seeking ways to become more environmentally friendly,” said Tina Hess, St. Mary’s manager, office of administration. “While we work to provide our patients and their families with the best possible care, we are also working to provide our neighbors and future generations with the best possible air. We are greatly honored by the recognition we have received from leading environmental groups in the healthcare industry and will continue to seek out innovative ways to help our environment.”
The new shredding and recycling program will expand St. Mary’s existing commitment to “reduce, reuse, and recyle,” by recycling all clean paper and cardboard throughout the building. The facility will shred the paper onsite in a sound-controlled environment and will work with a vendor to have the paper carted away and recycled. The shredding/recycling program is expected to reduce weekly garbage pulls and lessen the burden in city landfills.
St. Mary’s has previously been recognized for other environmentally-friendly practices. In 2006 the organization received the prestigious Making Medicine Mercury Free Award from Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) for implementing mercury-free alternatives throughout the healthcare system. St. Mary’s has also received the Civic Award of Distinction – Operation Save New York for participating in an ongoing energy curtailment program in which the facility voluntarily switches to generator power during threats of brown-outs or black-outs, allowing more power to be allocated to the community.
St. Mary’s energy reduction efforts have resulted in thousands of dollars in energy saving. The shredding and recycling program is expected to save more than 400 trees on an annual basis.
