Recycling
We started our cost-saving recycling program many years ago, and since then we have remained committed to our recycling practices earning us a spot in the elite Environmental Leadership Circle for over 10 years. This program combined with our use of renewable energy and energy conservation accomplishments has led our sustainability efforts.
Small actions, big impact
Our recycling program includes efforts to minimize construction and renovation waste, operating room waste, food waste and pharmaceutical waste. Not only does our recycling program allow us to reuse materials versus sending them to landfills, but it also reduces costs associated with discarding and packaging waste.
Construction waste
During the construction of our hospital in La Crosse, 98 percent of construction waste was recycled instead of being sent to a local landfill through close collaboration with our contractors. That equates to nearly 18,400 tons of waste that doesn't sit in a landfill today.
Operating room
We know that operating rooms are a big contributor to waste, and that is why, with nursing staff support, we have developed more than 30 separate initiatives in our inpatient surgery area alone, including the recycling of #1-7 plastic, blue wrap and white cardboard used in the packaging of surgical instruments.
Waste management
Our waste management program incorporates recycling and waste reduction, planning and control, including food and pharmaceutical waste. Our in-house pharmaceutical waste program, created in 2009, involves our team members sorting and packaging hazardous wase, eliminating the need for a third-party vendor.
La Crosse Hospital
Not only does our La Crosse Hospital include the most comprehensive regional trauma and emergency center, private rooms for all patients, new operating rooms and more, it also was designed with sustainability in mind. We eliminated PVC materials from the interior finishes, incorporated water-efficient landscaping, used recycled materials where we could, installed three rooftop gardens, sourced materials within 500 miles of the campus, when possible, and more.
News
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Send us your questions and ideas about environmental sustainability.