S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 9 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 8 5
F
rom blue
wrap to plas-
tic film to
white card-
board, ORs
produce millions of
mounds and millions of
pounds of waste per year.
Rather than cart it away to
landfills, Monongahela
Valley (Pa.) Hospital recy-
cles its rubbish into park
benches and blue wrap
blankets. This trash-to-trea-
sure mentality earned the
community hospital in
western Pennsylvania this
year's OR Excellence
Award for Environmental
Stewardship.
"When it comes to environmentally friendly ideas, everybody is
encouraged to think outside the box," says Darcie Opalko, MBA, MS,
RN, CNOR, CSSM, the director of surgical services at Monongahela
Valley.
With this team-based, anything-goes approach to going green, no
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Trash to Treasure:
Going Green for the Greater Good
Monongahela Valley Hospital reduces OR waste to help the environment —
and the less fortunate. Jared Bilski | Senior Associate Editor
• TRANSFORMED Monongahela Valley (Pa.) Hospital donates thousands
of pounds of blue wrap to an organization that turns it into park benches.
Monongahela
Valley
(Pa.)
Hospital
