External Affairs
Media Advisory
July 26, 2012
Alamo Bldg., 2nd floor
1611 N.W. 12th Avenue
Miami, Florida 33136-1096
Phone: 305-585-7213
Fax: 305-326-8630
Contact: Ed O’Dell
305-585-7212/786-299-8066
JACKSON HEALTH SYSTEM KEEPS WASTE FROM LANDFILLS
Miami, Fla. – Jackson Health System is implementing a sustainable solution for managing its hospital waste
that includes a strong focus on green initiatives such as reducing carbon emissions by keeping plastic and
cardboard out of landfills, decreasing regulated medical waste volumes and recycling almost one third of total
waste.
The American healthcare sector accounts for 8 percent of the U.S. carbon footprint, according to a
study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association1. The analysis found that hospitals are by far
the largest contributor of carbon emissions in the healthcare sector.
“Jackson Health System’s responsibility to our residents isn’t just about curing illness – it’s about
promoting and supporting healthy communities,” said Michael Hughes, Director of Environmental Services,
at Jackson Health System. We are decreasing the system’s total impact on the environment and helping to
improve air quality, public health and overall safety.”
Jackson recycles 29 percent of its total waste and is reducing carbon emissions by using reusable
sharps containers for items such as needles and scalpels. This step prevents a significant amount of cardboard
and plastic from going into landfills each year. Each reusable container keeps an average of 600 disposable
sharps containers from going to the landfill.
In one year, Jackson Health System expects to avoid 137,011 pounds of carbon emissions by
diverting 230,911 pounds of plastic and 17,303 pounds of cardboard from landfills. These numbers are the
equivalent of not burning 7,055 gallons of gasoline2.
Additionally, shutting down the autoclave reduces utility bills because less electricity and water are
not being used.
About Jackson Health System
Jackson Health System, an integrated healthcare delivery system, consists of its centerpiece, Jackson Memorial
Hospital; multiple primary care and specialty care centers; a variety of school-based clinics serving many
elementary, middle and high schools; two long-term care nursing facilities; six Corrections Health Services
clinics; a network of mental health facilities; Holtz Children’s Hospital, Jackson Rehabilitation Hospital,
Jackson Mental Health Hospital, Jackson North Medical Center and Jackson South Community Hospital.
Opened in 1918, Jackson Memorial Hospital is an accredited, tax-assisted, tertiary teaching hospital with more
than 1,500 licensed beds. In affiliation with the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine faculty,
Jackson Memorial provides a wide range of patient services, educational programs, a clinical setting for
research activities and a number of health-related community services. For more information visit:
http://www.jhsmiami.org.
1 The
2
University of Chicago, JAMA, December 2009
http://www.stericycle.com/carbon-footprint-estimator.html