Tripler wins award for cutting waste and hazards

The EPA notes the hospital has virtually eliminated mercury

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."