Building Sustainability for Our Planet
Health care institutions have a particular obligation to do the right thing for the planet. Many people are surprised to learn how significantly health care impacts the environment, accounting for 18% of harmful emissions in the United States.
Atlantic Health System is working hard to change that by reducing our energy use and increasing our reliance on cleaner and renewable energy. And we’re working to protect the environment through measures aimed at water conservation, reducing and eliminating toxic chemicals, recycling, and more. The initiatives we’ve undertaken put us in the top 10 health systems in the nation for sustainability. And we’re just getting started!
With all 18,000 of us working together, we can make a real difference in making sure our planet thrives for generations.
The lights turn on when you enter a room and turn off when you leave. It’s a little thing. But energy has the biggest impact on our carbon footprint, and everything helps. We’re doing big things, too, like building cleaner, more efficient “cogeneration” power plants, and putting solar panels on every roof that’s feasible. We’re even exploring transportation options so our team members can leave their cars at home. It adds up to a smaller carbon footprint and a healthier planet. And that’s good for everyone.
Use less, reuse and recycle more. We’re recycling at twice the rate mandated by the State of New Jersey. We’ve eliminated single-use plastics, Styrofoam and polystyrene wherever possible, and replaced them with greener alternatives. We’ve received national recognition for “greening the OR,” in part by working with our vendor to recycle the large quantity of blue surgical wrap we use.
Use less, reuse and recycle more. We’re recycling at twice the rate mandated by the State of New Jersey. We’ve eliminated single-use plastics, Styrofoam and polystyrene wherever possible, and replaced them with greener alternatives. We’ve received national recognition for “greening the OR,” in part by working with our vendor to recycle the large quantity of blue surgical wrap we use.
These panels were designed, installed, and are now generating renewable energy at two Atlantic Health hospitals, reducing our carbon footprint with every watt generated. Solar is planned wherever feasible system-wide, targeted for completion in 2023.
Waste dehydrators are installed at two Atlantic Health System hospitals, reducing food scraps to a pulp usable to enrich soil for agriculture. This material completes a cycle of sustainability through an arrangement with the local Greenwood Gardens. We buy produce for our facilities from them, and then return the dehydrated food waste to grow more produce.
Constructed and operational, the Morristown Medical Center plant joins our existing CoGen plant at Overlook Medical Center. The CoGen plant uses clean-burning natural gas to generate electricity and captures the waste heat to generate steam. Dramatic reduction in carbon emissions — 43% — and significant utility savings.
Atlantic Health System was recognized for outstanding overall accomplishments in environmental sustainability by Practice Greenhealth for the second year in a row in 2022. We're one of only 10 health systems nationwide to receive this honor.
Chilton Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center and Overlook Medical Center were rated in the top 20% of health systems for sustainability by Practice Greenhealth.
Newton Medical Center and Hackettstown Medical Center were recognized for superior performance in sustainability by Practice Greenhealth.