Tripler wins award for cutting waste and hazards

The EPA notes the hospital has virtually eliminated mercury

Star-Bulletin staff
citydesk@starbulletin.com

Tripler Army Medical Center was recognized recently by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its waste-minimization and pollution prevention programs.

Tripler's accomplishments include virtually eliminating mercury at the hospital, plus reduction in overall waste creation and an increase in recycling, a release from the hospital said.

The hospital received a 2006 Hospitals for a Healthy Environment Partners for Change award for its significant contributions in caring for the environment on Dec. 6 at a Schofield Barracks forum.

"The Tripler team has worked long and hard for the reduction of wastes at Tripler," Rich Vaille, associate director for the EPA's Region 9 that includes Hawaii, said in the release.

"They have accomplished removal of 3,300 pounds of mercury at Tripler Army Medical Center, resulting in a virtually mercury free facility in 2006. ... They have reduced solid waste by three percent, recycled 32 percent of their waste, eliminated 3,600 pounds of hazardous waste and saved $384,000 in the past year with their Waste Minimization efforts."



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