In 2008, Legacy Health recycled 4,427 tons of material - nearly 54 percent of our waste!
Our goal is to reach 70 percent by 2010.
The employees and volunteers at each of Legacy's hospitals and clinics have made us a national leader in environmentally responsible healthcare. Here are just a few of their accomplishments.
Legacy Clinical Research & Technology Center
(home to Legacy Laboratory Services and Legacy Research)
- Donates unneeded lab supplies to various groups, including Portland State University
Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
- Achieved a 50 percent increase in recycling infrastructure
- Offers a twice-weekly farm stand with fresh produce to employees, guests and the community
- Acts as the drop-off location for a community farm subscription service
- Achieved a reduction of toxic materials and a mercury-free environment
- Operates recycling programs for sterile blue wrap (made of spun polypropylene), kitchen oil and solvents
Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center
- Serves organic, sustainably grown and harvested food
- Offers a weekly farm stand with fresh produce to employees, guests and the community
- Acts as the drop-off location for a community farm subscription service
Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center
- Achieved full-circle recycling of food and paper-based material and recycling programs for sterile blue wrap, kitchen oil and solvents
- Operates one of the most cost-effective waste management programs in the country
- Donates unused high-quality food to Blanchet House, which serves the needy
- Is the first hospital in the country to recycle its disposable Bair Paws patient warming gownsDonates unused high
Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center
- Offers recycling opportunities to tenants in the medical office buildings on the hospital campus – to our knowledge, this is the only hospital in the country to do this
- Winner of the Gresham G.R.E.A.T business award for leadership in environmental management
Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center
- Built in 2005 as a nearly paperless operation, with native landscaping, extensive natural lighting and "green" building materials, Salmon Creek made Healthcare Design Magazine's Top 10 Green Hospitals in 2006.
- Partners with Clark County for monthly public collection events for pharmaceuticals, cell phones, batteries and eye glasses
- Participates in the Clark County drug take-back effort by allowing drop-offs of unwanted non-controlled pharmaceuticals