41NBC WMGT-DT

MCCG's Green Efforts Improve Patient Care

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT)- The Medical Center of Central Georgia is making strides to go green.

In the last month the hospital started a single stream recycling program.

"We diverted 3,000 pounds of waste going to the local landfill," says Assistant Director of Environmental Services, Paul Kany.

Kany says there are more than 275 green smart recycling containers.

"Currently, we recycle about 30%. With implementing the single stream program our goal is to hopefully increase that to around 50%," says Kany.

According to Kany, part of the Medical Center's mission is to be good stewards of the environment.

"We encourage employees to bring their recycled material from home just to continue that diversion from the landfill," says Kany.

The hospital has also added new upgrades to its newest wing to be more eco-friendly.

"We've replaced incandescent light bulbs with efficient fixtures... like florescent fixtures and LEDS," says Manager of Safety and Compliance, Drew Elrod.

Elrod adds, "We've also installed no-finish floors, which doesn't require strippers or wax. So it's a cleaner more durable environment." That treatment also makes them less time consuming to clean, which gives employees more time to work with patients.

"We save numerous man hours, so it's not just financial savings it's labor savings as well," says Elrod.

According to Kany, the Medical Center's new recycling program is expected to cut waste costs by 10% in time.