The Alaska region is doing exciting work to help reach the system-wide goals of carbon negative by 2030.
The region is taking a hands-on approach to know what is going in the dumpster to determine future sustainability projects. To collect this data, each ministry will perform a trash audit this year. Caregivers from operations and clinical teams will empty and sort bags of trash, group like items together, and tally what they see. A list of projects (at the ministry or region level) will then be created in support of the system-wide goal to send less than 50% of waste to the landfill, autoclave, or incineration.
With furniture, office supplies, and furnishings already known to contribute to landfill waste, the Alaska Green Team launched the Reuse Room at Providence Alaska Medical Center as part of Earth Week this year. Every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., caregivers can drop off these heavy items and check out the items brought by others for reuse. Green Team members volunteer to answer questions and record items that move in and out of the room. Since the opening on April 19, the Reuse Room has saved at least 1,450 pounds from being thrown away and the items reused are valued around $12,760, preventing the purchase of new items.
Also, during Earth Week, Providence Seward Medical Center hosted a cook-out to celebrate all the great work they do already and begin conversations of starting a Green Team.
Providence Kodiak Island Medical Center applied for the Practice Greenhealth “Partner For Change” Award for the first time.
Providence Valdez Medical Center will be the first ministry to perform a trash audit during the week of June 6.
More info
For questions about the projects in Alaska, reach out to Darcy Moxon, sustainability program manager.