Public services make up 40% of our economy. That’s why it’s so important that politicians make sure that they get their part of the economy green as well as encouraging families to do the same. Locally St George’s Hospital have led the way here and shown how it is possible to both go green and save money at the same time. There approach was recognized locally by jointly winning the Wandsworth Guardian’s Green Guardian Award and also recognized nationally by being the runner up in the Health Service Journal’s Good Corporative Citizenship award. We need this sort of attitude across the whole public sector. Here is what they did:
- It was estimated that the Trust produced enough waste to fill two public swimming pools every week.
- Much of this waste was recyclable
- Think Green looked to raise awareness of environmental issues and educate hospital staff about recycling and other energy saving techniques, through a series of short and long term programmes.
- The project aims to redress and reduce carbon emissions across all sites.
- Using a two pronged approach, Think Green looked at the introduction of environmentally friendly technical innovations as well as changing the culture of all the Trust’s staff, patients and visitors.
The campaign began with an exhibition stand in the hospital’s main foyer where staff handed out T-shirts, recycling bags and handy ‘Think Green’ tips to the hospital’s patient’s staff and visitors.
- Visitors to the stand were also asked to sign a pledge, guaranteeing their support and promising to help St George’s achieve its environmental aims.
- In partnership with Wandsworth Council, the Trust has placed 17 large recycle bins around the hospital. Staff and patients can now recycle aluminum cans, paper and card, plus empty glass and plastic bottles at all main hospital entrances.
- Waste management staff worked tirelessly to raise the campaign’s profile and so far have:
increased awareness of recycling at St George’s
~ set up a ‘recycling village’
~ introduced recycling bins at all hospital entrances
~ upgraded the boiler house
~ identified 150 ‘Green Champions’
~ looked at ways of reducing waste across all sites
~ communicated a number of easy everyday environmentally friendly routines
~ encouraged everyone not to waste resources such as heat and electricity
~ produced regular newsletters
~ developed a staff induction pack.
- As a result of these initiatives St George’s now:
recycles two tonnes of waste a week and four and a half tones of cardboard every month
~ converts 70 per cent of its green waste into compost
~ uses bio-degradable weed killers
~ has reduced its number of catering deliveries
~ sends used cooking oil to be reprocessed into bio fuel and plans to power a number of internal vehicles on bio-diesel in the near future.
~ donates redundant equipment to Africa.
~ includes sustainability in contract negotiations, wherever possible - The project has also resulted in a number of annual saving both in terms of resources and finance. Since 2005 the Trust has managed to save approx:
~ 6,000MWh of gas, estimated cost £103k and 1140 tonnes of CO2
~ 2,300 MWh of gas and 252 MWh of electricity, estimated cost £54k and 1090 tonnes of CO2.