Barnesville Hospital's Commitment to the Community Served

Scott Walter & Carl Perkins, Environmental Service Technicians, Lisa Zaucha, J&J/Ace Disposal, Tammy Shepherd, Jefferson-Belmont Solid Waste Authority,
and Green Team members, Anne Smith, Denise Riley, Cheryl Kessler, Joginder Kaur, Lynn Atkinson, Teresa Landefeld, Jeff Britton, and David Carroll.

In 2008, Barnesville Hospital, in partnership with the Jefferson-Belmont Solid Waste Authority and J&J/Ace Disposal, expanded its hospital wide recycling program. Employees are now encouraged to deposit all paper generated at their desks into recycling bins, rather than throwing it in the trash. In addition, employees have been asked to recycle their aluminum cans and plastics. Tammy Shepherd, Director of the Jefferson-Belmont Solid Waste Authority states, "Congratulations to everyone at Barnesville Hospital for their assistance in the dramatic removal of recyclables from the municipal solid waste stream."

Barnesville Hospital remains committed to the program and the results speak for themselves. In 2008, the hospital's employees successfully recycled 80 tons of paper. Recycling this amount of paper saves 1,360 trees, 30,400 gallons of oil, 240 cubic yards of landfill, 320,000 kilowatts of energy, and 560,000 gallons of water. Because a single tree can absorb up to 48 pounds of carbon dioxide per year and release enough oxygen back into the atmosphere to support 2 human beings, Barnesville Hospital's efforts have effectively prevented 65,280 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the environment and provided an additional oxygen source for 2,720 people. Put another way, this is comparable to preventing the car exhaust of over 74,000 miles of driving.

Recycling isn't just good for the environment, it's good for business and jobs in Ohio. As of 2000, almost 100,000 jobs in Ohio were directly dependent on recycling. Ohio recycling resulted in $22.5 billion in sales and an annual payroll of $3.6 billion.

Along with the paper recycling program, Barnesville Hospital also recycles e-waste (e.g., computers, telephones, medical equipment, televisions, cell phones, and microwaves) as well as fluorescent bulbs, cooking oil, batteries, and pallets. Mercury waste is eliminated through an agreement with Bowling Green State University.

Barnesville's commitment to "reduce, re-use, and recycle" began in 2005 under the direction of the Green Team and with the cooperation of the Environmental Services Department. Green Team members represent many areas of the hospital and include, Jeff Britton, David Carroll, Denise Riley, DeeDee Howell, Joginder Kaur, Kathryn Pittman, Cheryl Kessler, Teresa Landefeld, Lynn Atkinson, and Chair Anne Smith. Since that time, Barnesville Hospital has been the recipient of national awards by Hospitals for Healthy Environment (H2E).

"Our recycling has been relatively easy to implement and can provide both positive results both in cost reduction and in demonstrating to our employees and the community Barnesville Hospital's commitment to being environmentally responsible," according to Anne Smith, Environmental Services Supervisor. "Employees are committed to, not only continuing the current recycling efforts, but developing additional measures."

For more information about Barnesville Hospital's involvement in the community, call (740) 425-5158 or visit Barnesville Hospital's website at www.barnesvillehospital.com.