Promina Kennestone's Recycling Program

From the Source, Fall 1996

Walk down the corridors of Promina Kennestone and you quickly see why the hospital won the National Keep America Beautiful award for recycling. Throughout the hospital from admissions to the cafeteria you will see hundreds of blue recycling bins (and employees and visitors placing recyclables into the bins). Promina's Kennestone Hospital in Marietta started their recycling program in 1992. Since the program's inception, Kennestone has recycled nearly 1,400 tons of solid waste.  

Recycling opportunities are constantly being evaluated and implemented in every aspect of the hospital. For example, food waste, except for meat and bones, is sent to a pulper/extractor system which reduces the amount of kitchen waste by 80%. The eggcrate mattresses are collected by a company that use the mattresses for carpet backing. 

With over 3,000 employees and a patient turnover rate of 3 days, what factors contribute to the success of Promina Kennestone's recycling program? According to the coordinator Ron Harris, the keys to success are separation at the source, regular and consistent pick-ups of the materials, and encouraging and recognizing employee involvement. By picking up the recyclables on a consistent basis, the employees know that the company is committed to recycling. By placing numerous bins around the hospital, it is easy and convenient for employees to recycle.  

To keep the employees interested in the program and to encourage participation, several incentive programs are offered throughout the year. One incentive program was a contest to name the recycling van, which is used to pick up recyclables from the satellite locations. Over three hundred employees submitted ideas. The winning name was RITA, which stands for Recycling Is Team Accomplishment. Another contest asked for employees to guess the number of aluminum cans collected for recycling during one month. The winners received a $200 gold gift certificate. A recycling birthday party is held annually to thank the employees and volunteers for their participation in the recycling program.  

An objective of Promina Kennestone's recycling program is to educate the employees, patients, and public about the recycling program. Fifty-one team captains representing each department and satellite location meet quarterly to discuss the program's progress and new recycling opportunities. These captains are responsible for passing the recycling information along to the employees in their respective areas. In addition to the team captains, recycling information is posted on bulletin boards, published in in-house newsletters, and is available by contacting the recycling hotline. To update the patients of the hospital's recycling progress, information is also posted on the hospital's in-house television channel. 

In addition to the materials being diverted from local landfills, the hospital has reduced the number of garbage pick-ups which saves money on tipping fees. Accounting for the revenues generated and the reduced disposal fees, Promina Kennestone estimates a cost savings of over $284,000 from their recycling program, since 1992. 

This year Promina Kennestone expects to recycle 400 tons of materials. This amount will exceed any year to date.  

For more information about Promina Kennestone's recycling program or how P²AD can assist your institution or commercial business in reducing waste, contact P2AD at (404) 651-5120 or (800) 685-2443.