Mount Carmel East, like any large facility, generates a lot of trash. Storage rooms are full of supplies that, eventually, become piles of cardboard or bins full of paper.
But 18 months ago, the hospital began a massive recycling effort. Associates helped collect paper, plastic, metals, cans and even bins full of batteries. Last year, they recycled nearly 20 percent of all
the hospital's waste.
And they've tracked it all using SWACO's online E-TRAC system.
John Guardiola of Mount Carmel's Environmental Services team is in charge of entering the data into the online system.
"That shows that in 2009, we saved the equivalent of 1,051 barrels of oil," he says, pointing to a chart on the screen. E-TRAC uses the EPA's "WARM" model to calculate real-world v. waste equivalents. The model says Mount Carmel saved the equivalent energy to power 41 houses for a year and more than three acres of trees.
"When you present that to department managers or the average associate," Guardiola says, "it means a lot more to them that 'I really do want to participate in this because I'm really making an impact.'"
"now it means something. It comes closer to home," says SWACO's John Remy. "People understand it and it's easier to explain."
SWACO reports the collective information from dozens of businesses to the state EPA. That, in turn, helps Ohio plan future "green goals" or plan for the life expectancy of the landfills.
"It just gives us a better green barometer," Remy says.
Mount Carmel has been using the E-TRAC system at its east-side facility for more than a year and recently launched it at St. Ann's. It plans to rolls the system into the west-side and New Albany facilities soon.
"We still need to keep pushing. It's an ongoing process," says Bob Junk of Mount Carmel's Environmental Services team.
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