Friday, October 22, 1993 - North Shore News - 23

RELSREFR

par CETERA SE RSRESEAS WALT CACORE

ospitals boast many waste reduction measures

Peggy
Trendelh Whitaker

ECO iNFO

IT’S NOT often I get the
chance to experience the
subject of one of my col-
ums as intimately as I did
last week — thank
goodness.

After finishing off a story about
the waste reduction measures that
have been undertaken by one local
hospital, | had the opportunity to
check myself into another hospital
to experience some of the lesser-
known joys of pregnancy.

It was an invitation | just
couldn’t refuse (according to my
doctor, that is).

Life on the inside, as aay hos-
pital veteran knows, is highly
disposai-oricnted. ©

Every time your temperature is
taken, it’s with the aid of a
throw-away plastic instrument
cover; thousands of syringes,
cups, swabs, and many instru-
ments are disposed of daily.

While this is often a safety re-
quirement, some practices that
have become entrenched in fatter

Monarch feurnitine gel)

years are unnecessary — as many
hospital environment committees,
such as those at Vancouver Gen-
eral and Lions Gate, are finding
out.

The result is an impressive
reduction in waste and an increase
in staff and patient environmental
awareness.

Vancouver General Hospital
(VGH) has decreased its garbage
by 300 tons annually, and that’s
only by recycling its office paper.

The hospital, which has had an
environmental committee for
about four years, also boasts a
number of other waste reduction
Measures.

For example, VGH uses reus-
able gowns in the operating room,
and reusable incontinence briefs,
cotton liners and bed pads in its
incontinence department.

Over a six-month period, that
translates to almost one million
disposable cotton liners alone be-
ing saved from disposal — at a
cost savings of between 35% and
40%.

“VGH is also planning to utilize
reusable drapes in the operating
room, which will divert additional
materials from the waste stream,”
said Barry Pearce, director of
hospital services.

“Two to three pounds of drapes
are used for every patient,’” he
added.

Re-use is also the key when it
comes to food services.

Polystyrene foam cups have
largely been replaced with reusable
plastic and ceramic mugs in the
cafeteria, and patient food trays
are now stocked with reusable
cutlery and china,

The recycling of pop cans and
glass containers is also a cafeteria
initiative.

Hospital recycling efforts extend
from the monthly collection of
6,000 eflecto-leads (used for elee-

“AMNUAL

FLOOR SAMPLE SALE
SAVINGS OF 20% - 40%

* We will pay G.S.T.
| © No monthly payments
§ © No interest

J ¢ One Payment MARCH ‘94

4
7

trocardiograms), to scrap metal
generated by construction pro-
jects, to a wide variety of paper
grades and telephone books.

VGH also takes the important
step of ‘closing the recycling
loop’ by purchasing end pro-
ducts, such as the recycled paper
used for hospital publications,

Critical to its efforts, as with
any organization implementing
new environmental programs, has
been employee education and
awareness,

Staff — whose interest in waste
reduction first got the recycling
programs started — have been
kept abreast of new initiatives
through the hospital newsletter
and department managers.

Eco-beef of the week

1 had a call from one reader
after | wrote an article about
municipalities discontinuing free
drop-off of residential waste at
the transfer station.

While the wheels of change
move slowly, it looks like North
Shore councils are also moving
toward gradually reducing the
number of cans of garbage that
can be Jeft al the curb on garbage
day, and from there we may see
the beginnings of a user-pay
system for garbage pickup, as
well,

The reader’s complaint was with
the common practice of lining

trash cans with plastic bags.

Not only is it usually unneces-
sary, it seems economically silly to
go and buy a product that is pro-
duced solely to be thrown in the
garbage.

! promised I'd pass that on, and
here's 2 tip from me, too: on
Monday, why not promise
yourself you'll walk to the polls to
cast your vote, and Jeave the car
at home?

Having been nearly bedridden
for a week myself I've once again
awakened to the pleasure of being
self-ambulatory,

Walking is not only an excellent
environmental choice, it's also
fun, free, and very good for you.

Graucty, what gravety? It's footbag - a brand new kicking game where the action takes place
6 feet in the air! Some of the world’s top kickers will be competing at Park Royal. And while they're
here, they'll be giving freestyle demos and holding clinics to lauch new players into the footbag orbit.

Feettag - FRarclical Freer!

TOURNAMENT: NORTH & SOUTH MALLS
Thursday, October 28th, 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm., Friday, October 29th, 5:00 pm - 9:90 pm

FINALS: NORTH & SOUTH MALLS

Saturday, October30th, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm

FREE STYLE DEMOS & CLINICS

South Mall Only

Thursday and Friday - 7:00 om - 7:30 pm

Saturday - 11:00 om - 11:30 cm ond 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm