Mercy Hospitals and Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) are no strangers to the environmentally-friendly concepts. We recognize the relationship between human health and the health of the environment and we know that our policies, purchases, and practices can have an impact on the environment we all share. And for just that reason Mercy, like all members of CHW, take care to do our part.
City, county, and other agencies came together this summer to present the Green Living Expo for Mercy employees. Mercy Hospitals invited its employees to take the concept of living green home, encouraging them to adopt eco-friendly practices outside the walls of the hospital. Community partners were invited to showcase services they offer that can help us help the environment. The event was a chance to learn a little about a wide variety of options---everything from used oil recycling to sharps disposal programs---that can help reduce the negative impact we have on the earth.
“The response to the Green Living Expo was amazing,” says Dean Galvin, director of environmental services and transportation at Mercy. “It was truly energizing to see how many people care about green living.”
One highlight was the free home energy survey being offered by PG&E. Mercy staff could sign up for a survey of their homes conducted by PG&E to evaluate and provide solutions to reduce energy consumption. Upon completion of the survey, PG&E replaced every light bulb in the home with the energy efficient CFL bulbs.
The Commitment Continues
A hospital might not be the first to come to mind when you think about eco-friendly practices but you might be surprised. Here are just a few more ways Mercy Hospitals works to do its part:
• Biodegradable cafeteria utensils. Plates and silverware are now recyclable, and Styrofoam cups have been replaced with 100 percent biodegradable versions.
• Cardboard and paper recycling. Used paper is shredded and sent for recycling. Mercy also recycles 20,000 pounds of cardboard each month.
• Furniture recycling. When it’s time to replace office furniture, Mercy makes sure that old items are either recycled or donated to others that need them.
• Eliminating e-waste. Mercy partnered with a vendor this spring for its first e-waste recycling event for the public. Mercy donated the rebate funds collected by the recycling vendor to Keep Bakersfield Beautiful, a volunteer organization that works to improve the community through environmental projects.
Learn what else Mercy does to help the environment, at
www.mercygreen.com.
