Hospital wins award for eco-friendly practices

FREMONT, Mich. — A new program at Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial hospital in Fremont created to eliminate Styrofoam™ containers and reduce the use of other disposables in cafeteria and dietary operations has earned the healthcare facility a national honor.

Practice Greenhealth, a nonprofit organization that encourages the healthcare sector to improve patient care and engage in efficient, environmental-friendly practices, presented the hospital with the Greenhealth Partner for Change Award at a conference and exhibition in Portland, Oregon on May 14.

The award recognizes health care facilities that improve and expand ongoing efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling and other source reduction programs.

Eligible recipients must be recycling 15 percent of their total waste and must have reduced regulated medical waste, among other successful pollution prevention programs.

Gerber Memorial, located at 212 S. Sullivan Avenue, won the annual award for a program that it launched on Earth Day in April 2014. The hospital replaced old Styrofoam containers, including cups and plates, with New "To Go" reusable containers and replaced plastic silverware with a cutlery kit that cost employees $0.20.