Hackensack University Medical Center - Where medicine meets innovation

Sustainability 2

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Welcome to our sustainability page. Here you will find information on our initiatives in the greening of HackensackUMC, recycling tips, and what you can do to be more sustainable at your workplace and your home.

HackensackUMC through the initiatives of the Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center® has :

Developed and implemented Greening The Cleaning® program
Created one of the first Environmental Health Centers in Healthcare
Launched the Sustainability Committee
Initiated the first green hospital in the country of its size and scale
97% recycled steel structure
Non PVC hand railing
Cotton Denim Insulation
Recycled Carpet Tile
Natural Lighting
Organic food option
Non-toxic toys
JTCC- Largest Living Wall
Rooftop Garden where vegetables are used for food

HackensackUMC intends to continuously improve our programs to reduce waste, minimize the use of hazardous materials, prevent pollution of valuable natural resources, increase recycling, comply with all environmental regulations, and work toward sustainability.

	Why Using Safer Chemicals is Important Every day, patients and workers are exposed to a wide array of chemicals in hospitals and health care facilities. More chemicals are used in health care than in any other sector. Many of these chemicals have been shown to have a lasting negative effect on individual health, public health and the environment. Learn more
	Hackensack's Memorandum Of Understanding Accomplishments The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Hackensack University Medical Center have entered into an agreement to enhance environmental practices at the hospital. The medical center has pledged to reduce its use of plastics, reduce and recycle solid waste, complete the final phase of its green roof, use non-toxic cleaning products, conserve energy and water, and reduce air pollution from its vehicles. The Hackensack University Medical Center is the first hospital in Bergen County to sign such an agreement with the EPA. See assessments
	Health Care Sector Moves Away From Flame Retardants In Upholstered Furniture Chicago, IL – Advocate Health Care, Beaumont Health System, Hackensack University Medical Center, and University Hospitals announced today that they will stop purchasing furniture treated with toxic flame retardant chemicals. Combined, these four health systems represent 7,000 patient beds throughout Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, and Ohio. Read more
	HackensackUMC Honored As A National Environmental Leader For Social Stewardship Hackensack University Medical Center is pleased to announce that it has received the HealthTrust 2014 Member Recognition Award for Social Stewardship. The medical center was honored for demonstrating a commitment to conservation and preservation of the healthcare environment. Read more
	The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center Is Leading Healthcare Sustainability Author and health advocate Deirdre Imus is pleased to announce that The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center collaborated with Hackensack University Medical Center to earn Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor: the 2014 Environmental Excellence Award. The recognition names HackensackUMC as one of the top 25 green hospitals in the country.Read more
	Hackensack Hospital, Food Waste Is A Big Target For Green Ambitions HACKENSACK — Food waste at Hackensack University Medical Center doesn’t go to a landfill.Almost all of the food that patients or people eating in the cafeteria don’t eat is rolled on a cart to a stainless steel box in the corner of the hospital kitchen.The staff opens a panel on the machine, unleashing a putrid smell, and dumps the food inside. Inside, there are woodchips and about two pounds of liquidy substance filled with four strains of micro-organisms. Read more
	HackensackUMC Looks To Expand Green Programs By Jennifer Vazquez Hackensack Chronicle HACKENSACK — Hackensack University Medical Center has demonstrated its commitment to green initiatives through past projects, current ones, and the ambition to continue expanding its sustainability programs. Read more
	Hackensack University Medical Center Recognized With National Partner For Change Award HackensackUMC was awarded the 2013 “Partner for Change” Award by Practice Greenhealth, the nation’s leading health care membership community that empowers its members to increase their efficiencies and environmental stewardship while improving patient safety and care. Read more
	HackensackUMC Partners With Terracycle To Recycle The Unrecyclable Hackensack University Medical Center is the first hospital in the country to partner with recycling pioneer TerraCycle to keep difficult-to-recycle items such as keyboards and mice, diaper packaging, chip bags and writing utensils out of landfills. TerraCycle will recycle the items into affordable, eco-friendly consumer products and industrial applications. Read more
	HackensackUMC Honored With Healthy Hospital Award For Leadership In Smart Resource Management HackensackUMC is proud to announce it has received a Healthy Hospital Award from Stryker Sustainability Solutions, signifying its commitment to sustainable healthcare. The “healthy hospital” designation is reserved for select hospitals that demonstrate exceptional commitment to healthcare sustainability and quality through the employment of medical device remanufacturing and reprocessing programs. Read more
	Saving Water In Hospitals Water used in hospitals and other health care facilities comprises 7 percent of the total water use in commercial and institutional facilities in the United States.1 The largest uses of water in hospitals are cooling equipment, plumbing fixtures, landscaping, and medical process rinses. Read more
	HackensackUMC Saves Big On Energy At Hackensack University Medical Center, patient care comes first – but operational efficiency and environmental impact are also among its priorities. In the Central Plant Operations alone, the medical center has achieved savings of more than $700,000 through smart management, including more than $400,000 through continuous energy oversight of the chiller plant. Read more
	PVC and Pthalates: Global Overview PVC (vinyl plastic) is used throughout health care in a wide variety of applications, from IV bags and disposable gloves, to curtains and flooring. Today it is the most commonly used plastic in medical devices. However, the use of PVC creates a number of environmental and health risks. Read more
	HackensackUMC Opens New Recycling Station In 2nd Street Cafe Robert C. Garrett, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Health Network and Deirdre Imus, president and founder of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Health Center® officially opened the new Recycling Station in the Second Street Café. Read more
	EPA and HackensackUMC Team Up To Increase Green Practices The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Hackensack University Medical Center have entered into an agreement to enhance environmental practices at the hospital. The medical center has pledged to reduce its use of plastics, reduce and recycle solid waste, complete the final phase of its green roof, use non-toxic cleaning products, conserve energy and water, and reduce air pollution from its vehicles. The Hackensack University Medical Center is the first hospital in Bergen County to sign such an agreement with the EPA. Read more

HackensackUMC's O.R. Minimizes Carbon Footprint

We, as Operating Room nurses, save lives everyday but also have realized the amount of waste we produce in doing so. A 2009 study found that approximately 40% of operating room waste is recyclable. Based on a literature review the main operating room staff at HackensackUMC recently conducted an evidence based research project to prove that much of our waste is, in fact, recyclable. Read more

Energy Conservation Resources

Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration illustrates that buildings are responsible for almost half of the energy consumed and 38% of all GHG emissions in the United States. According to the EPA, inpatient healthcare ranks as the second largest commercial energy user after the food service industry.1 Click here to learn more.