Over the past six days, while I have been spending an unfortunate amount of time at the hospital visiting my stepdad, I have also noticed an extraordinary amount of waste in every practice and every function.
It’s been mind-boggling (albeit nice and distracting too, to occasionally think about something else) but everything from all of the paper and disposable/single-use supplies, to unused but illuminated rooms, to plugged-in equipment with ’no one attached’, to the cafeteria (a haven for Styrofoam) all adds up. While some of the waste is hazardous and toxic, I was surprised to discover that 85% of the waste that exits hospitals is actually non-infectious waste. Now, there’s room for improvement …
U.S. Hospitals generate more than 2 million tons of solid waste per year… that’s 15 pounds of waste per patient every day. But I was also surprised to learn that 53% of the waste is actually paper!… now there’s an opportunity! Additional percentages (between 15-17% each) exist for food and plastics. Sounds like every hospital needs a big compost pile and a massive recycle bin! If the cafeterias alone would stop stocking Styrofoam and go back to reusable serveware and utensils, that savings alone would be amazing.
I’m sure the other issues are a lot more complicated than I’m making them and someone will take a shot at me for not knowing what I’m talking about, but that’s okay. Educate me. Because the way I look at it, there are approximately 6,000 hospitals in the alone and that a whoooole lotta trash…
There aren’t simple ways to select green hospitals (and often, in emergencies, you don’t really care), but if you’re in the healthcare industry, there are so many ways you can begin helping to create greener changes and that will hopefully come soon.
For now, dad’s getting quality care and I’m absolutely at peace with letting them create his 15 pounds per day.
hen he had the accident was made almost entirely of salvaged and reused parts… a plastic Miller Lite bottle was even converted into an overflow reservoir for one of the engine fluids! In his garage, coffee cans, pickle jars and plastic bottles are premium storage containers. T-shirts that have taken a beating from all of his mechanical work and “building” are turned into his garage rags. Milk jugs are turned into drip pans and the leather from an old jacket (that got torn) was given new life by becoming the seat of one of the motorcycles he built.
d never tell him how “green” he really is, because he would probably deny it 
but sorry Dad… all this reusing is SO GREEN!
Friday evening my stepdad was in a horrible car accident when someone pulled out in front of him while he was driving the convertible Model-T he had restored. He was ejected from the car and now lies in critical condition in an intensive care unit. He suffered a severe laceration that stretches from his eye across to the back of his head, bleeding on the brain, a crushed spleen (that was removed) and a collapsed lung. The most critical injury is now his lung because he suffers from underlying lung issues from all the years of hard work he put in at the local mill.
I am The Great Public Lights Caper!
table choice, but I’m quickly learning that there is a whole lot more to the story.
, and their products are made with all natural and organic materials. They’re washable, breathable, anti-dust mite and naturally fire retardant too. They are truly the most important and best products for baby when you consider how much time they actually spend sleeping (… you hope!) And if I had that choice to make all over again, I would undoubtedly choose organic. (Natural Mat products are available through 
Over the last few days our family enjoyed a weekend getaway that included a visit to the 
ractice and perform for countless hours a day. 
I have been on a “plastics kick” recently. Not with overusing them or anything crazy like that, but just in the way that I’ve been thinking about them lately… a lot.
The idea of this is ovewhelming. I am clearly not without fault, because I’ve certainly used my fair share right along with you, but it is just astonishing to know that every plastic we have ever touched is STILL HERE… and they are polluting, poisoning and contaminating every landfill where they eventually come to rest.
We celebrated at one of my favorite local joints because I prefer to forgo the overabundant waste and excess of those overpriced Mother’s day buffets! I was also sure NOT to walk away with any 
well. From their supplies and paper products to packaging for their foods, they’re making a tremendous effort to cut down on the waste. Other changes include using menus on recycled paper with soy inks, glass washers that use less water and soap, CFLs, better thermostat controls and low-flow water nozzles. They have even enacted a policy that prohibits delivery trucks from idling in their parking lots.
And if you are lucky enough to live in Cleveland, you need to visit 
me of the growing chains) and rated them on their eco-friendliness, using their “4-leaf green rating system”. Take a look, for those occasions when you need a quick bite, and you’ll feel better about making good choices.
Last week our daughter’s school had their annual Spring Fest to raise money to support their land lab. This area in front of their school has gardens, walking paths, trees and a pond and it’s an amazing little “earth” educational site for our kids.
Mom Goes Green just wants to wish every Mom on the planet a wonderful day! Thank you for all you do! Whether someone says it or not, your tireless efforts don’t go unnoticed! From cooking, cleaning and caring for your family to doing what you can to “be green” and protect the planet, you make a difference!