Network-Wide Recycling Begins This Summer

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – Rejoice!

Starting in July, you can be kinder and gentler to Planet Earth by separating paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum refuse and placing it in labeled bins at work.

The Seton Family of Hospitals will reduce its landfill use through an expanded recycling program at all sites. The Support Services team is putting the finishing touches on an agreement with a solid waste vendor that will supply Seton with regular reports showing recycling trends.

Recycling is the “third R.” Most effective in lightening the load on Mother Nature is reducing use of materials, for example, choosing the product with less packaging. Reusing an item instead of its disposable counterpart – think coffee mug instead of Styrofoam cups – is earth-friendlier. Finally, recycling items lessens use of raw materials.

Every ton of paper recycles saves:

• Seventeen, 40-foot pulp producing trees
• 7,000 gallons of water
• 380 gallons of oil
• 4,100 Kilowatts of electricity
• 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space

In fact, much of the benefit of recycling comes in the form of reduced energy use. According to some reports, recycling aluminum cans requires 95 percent less energy than producing the cans from raw bauxite ore. A single can translates to three hours of powering a television. Recycling plastic uses half the energy of incinerating it.