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UCLA Health System has been working to support the environment by reusing and recycling whenever possible, and by reducing the amount of hazardous material that are disposed. Here are just a few of our sustainability efforts.
Battery Recycling
The Safety Department led a battery-recycling program at our Westwood and Santa Monica hospitals. Our Environmental Services Department collects batteries of all sizes and places in designated containers. An outside vendor disposes of the batteries sustainably and according to regulation.
Chemical Recycling
UCLA Clinical Laboratories recycle alcohol and formaldehyde.
Reusable Sharps Container
UCLA Health System has a program to reuse sharps containers (medical waste disposal containers). While the hazardous waste is sterilized and incinerated, the container itself goes through a regulated process of sterilization, reassembly and is then returned to the health system. Reusing biohazard containers eliminates 40 to 60 tons of UCLA waste from being added to landfills.
Food Service Sustainability
The Nutrition Services Department has created a labeling system to highlight sustainable choices for diners. The department purchases 60 percent of their organic dairy and produce from locally grown sources and aims to increase purchases of sustainable food products.
To promote the connection between healthier eating and sustainability, all four cafeterias that operate on UCLA's Westwood and Santa Monica campuses eliminated fried foods from their menus for patients (with the exception of pediatric patients), implemented "Meatless Monday," lowered the cost of the salad bar prices and raised the cost of soda.
The raising of beef produces harmful greenhouse gases, thus, by encouraging people to consume more fruits and vegetables and less beef, we help reduce the harmful effects to the ozone layer.
The Nutrition Services Department stopped using Styrofoam. All plates, serving utensils and cups are made from Bagasse, a compostable and biodegradable product derived from sugar cane. Organic waste, which is collected in recycling bins in the kitchens and dining areas, all goes to a composting plant that turns it into a flaky pulp that eventually is used as fertilizer. Most of the food service products are either reusable, recyclable or compostable
Linen Reuse
The Materials Management Department has a program to reuse and recycle rejected linen. The department established collection bins on hospital units, mends salvageable linen and secures channels for the unsalvageable. If there is no in-house use for the linen, an outside vendor purchases it for recycling. The only portion of the linen that is disposed of in the trash are the plastic pieces of the underpad liners.
Microfiber Reusable Mops
UCLA Health System switched from conventional wet loop mops to flat microfiber reusable mops in order to reduce chemical and water use. The microfiber mops are more effective due to the large surface area, are lightweight and leave behind a faster-drying floor.
Save Blue, Go Green O.R. Program
The Save Blue, Go Green O.R. Program refers to the wide use of blue wrap in the Operating Rooms (O.R.). This is used to wrap and sterilize surgical equipment during an operation, and is then discarded. Blue wrap, along with HDPE #5 plastics, Such as IV bags and irrigation bottles, are recycled through this program.
Stryker Neptune Blood Collection
The Stryker Neptune blood collection system is incorporated into the medical vacuum system and used to collect blood and soft tissue during surgical procedures. The collected product is filtered, treated and safely disposed of through the sanitary sewer system. This method eliminates the need to transport bio-hazardous waste to remote treatment centers, reduces energy consumption associated with on-site treatment and improves employee safety by providing a safe way of handling potentially dangerous bio-hazardous waste.
Zero Blowdown
The UCLA Health System Facilities Department has installed a zero-discharge system for the cooling tower water at UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica, which eliminates chemicals being introduced to the sewer system from the condenser water system and significantly reduces water consumption. Approximately 10,000 gallons of water per day are saved.
Contact Us
Teresa Hildebrand
Sustainability Programs Manager
UCLA Health System
P 310-794-4114
E thildebrand@mednet.ucla.edu
