Spectrum Health receives environmental awards.

Information Services staff members display some of the 10 tons of electronic equipment recycled by Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital employees and community residents last fall. From left, Cathy Beckett, Will Hagerty and Chip Bowden.

LUDINGTON — Spectrum Health and its Ludington hospital have been recognized with environmental excellence awards from Practice Greenhealth, given by the organization to honor outstanding environmental achievements in the health care sector.

The Spectrum Health System was awarded the System for Change Award which honors health systems that are working cohesively to gather data, set goals, benchmark and share successes in environmental performance.

In addition to sharing in the system-wide System for Change Award, Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital was specifically cited with the Partner Recognition Award, for initiating an environmental program that has achieved at least a 10 percent recycling rate for the hospital’s total waste stream.

“Spectrum Health has taken great strides since our sustainability program started in 2007 and we continue to focus on improving human health, protecting the natural environment and practicing fiscal responsibility,” said Sarah Chartier, sustainability manager for Spectrum Health.

One of the environmental activities Chartier helped Spectrum Health Ludington Hospital organize this past year was an area-wide recycling program for electronic equipment.

“Hospital employees and Ludington area residents contributed more than 10 tons (20,056 pounds) of equipment for recycling, which might otherwise have gone into landfills,” said Greg Soper, who heads up the materials management and plant operations departments at the Ludington hospital.

The System for Change Award honors health systems that are working cohesively to gather data, set system goals, benchmark and share successes in environmental performance. System for Change Award winners have at least five hospitals or long-term care facilities and joined Practice Greenhealth as a health system. Spectrum Health is one of 11 health systems nationwide to receive the award for 2015.

As a health system, Spectrum Health received a total of 11 Practice Greenhealth Environmental Excellence Awards. In addition to the System for Change Award, system hospitals throughout west Michigan were recognized for such things as achieving improvements in their mercury elimination, waste reduction, recycling and source reduction programs

According to Practice Greenhealth, awards highlight health care organizations that are charting new territory and revolutionizing sustainability in health care.

“Implementing best practices in our sustainability, efficiency and environmental efforts is one way we demonstrate our commitment to be good stewards of our community’s resources,” said Tina Freese-Decker, President, Hospital Group, Spectrum Health. “This award recognizes the efforts of the many employees who embrace that commitment by reducing energy use, using local growers for food sources and eliminating waste from our facilities, all of which substantially impact the community and the environment.”