April 22 is Earth Day

To celebrate Earth Day, the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) is reaffirming its commitment to reduce its environmental footprint and preserve our natural resources for future generations.

Last year, more than 850 metric tonnes of paper and cardboard from different MUHC sites were recycled, and recovery activities were expanded to other recyclable materials, such as plastic and refundable containers. Initiatives such as multi-material recycling stations, collection containers in the hemodialysis and laundry departments, and centralized distribution operations have all helped improve our environmental performance. The MUHC recycling program for electronic waste (e-waste), which was recognized by the City of Montreal and the Conseil régional de l’environnement de Montréal, is continuing to be successful. Since its implementation in August 2009, more than 52,000 kilograms of electronic devices have been recycled across the MUHC.

Many ongoing projects also aim to reduce the amount of material headed to landfills, and any initiatives deemed successful will then be extended across the MUHC's different institutions. These projects include:

• A residual materials characterization study conducted by a team from the master's program in environment at Université de Sherbrooke. The study will describe how residual materials are managed and give recommendations to improve the current system.
• The upcoming deployment of recycling stations for personal electronic devices.
• The expanded collection of refundable containers.
• A composting program for organic waste produced by our institutions.

In addition to the positive impact on our environmental performance, these initiatives will also help us reach the goals set by the Quebec government in its residual materials management policy. By January 2016, 70 per cent of all plastic, glass and residual metal will have to be recycled while 60 per cent of residual organic waste will have to be collected for composting. In terms of the paper, cardboard and waste from construction, renovation and demolition activities, the MUHC is currently exceeding government objectives and is committed to continuing on this path.

The MUHC is also working very hard to ensure that residual materials are soundly and sustainably managed to make the Glen site a leader in environmental performance. Initiatives for the Glen include an eco-responsible purchasing policy as well as a plan to obtain LEED Canada EB: O&M Silver Certification (a rigorous Canadian green rating system).