Spectrum Health Engages Employees, Pilots Partnership for Problem Wastes

An innovative furniture refurbishing program has led to a dramatic decrease in the amount of trash the Spectrum Health Distribution Center puts in its dumpsters. But the program also has had a ripple effect beyond Spectrum, including a big boost to the work of Goodwill Industries of West Michigan.

Via the new program, old, damaged or unwanted furniture and equipment from 230 Spectrum sites and 14 hospitals is sent to Goodwill to be repaired and refurbished. It can then be sold at a Goodwill, given to non-profits or even made available to Spectrum employees through a Craigslist-like website (if an employee sees a piece that they want at their location, a team will deliver it free of charge).

All told the effort involves thousands of pounds of old furniture, much of which in the past had been destined for landfills. In fact, the Spectrum Health Distribution Center wants to get to zero waste to landfills, a goal it committed to in 2018, becoming the first Spectrum Health facility to set that target. They hit 87 percent that first year and now are at the 96 percent mark thanks to a process that included dumpster audits which revealed almost 73 percent of waste discarded could have been recycled.

In May 2019, the Michigan Recycling Coalition gave Spectrum an award for excellence in recycling. And while awards are nice, the ongoing partnerships, including that with Goodwill, serve a bigger purpose.

Sarah Chartier, Spectrum senior sustainability project manager, says: “The reason it’s important to us is we know economic health is based on having employment in the community. So we look beyond just the four walls of how we care for our patients to the actual health of the community.”

At its 37th Annual Conference in Ann Arbor, the Michigan Recycling Coalition recognized the Spectrum Health Distribution Center and the Delta County Solid Waste Authority manager, Don Pyle for excellence in recycling in an award ceremony.

In addition to furniture, Spectrum also works with community partners to recycle items such as medical and electrical equipment.  A partnership with Spring Lake-based International Aid allows for used and/or surplus medical equipment and medical supplies to be sent to relief efforts around the world.

Spectrum also strives to create a culture of sustainability, including a “Green Team” of staff members who coordinate internal sustainability efforts such as paper towel composting in bathrooms, signage in break rooms for composting and recycling, and zero waste to landfill stickers and posters around the building. There are also educational Lunch and Learns for staff.

“As a team we have developed  that culture and people have really bought into it,” said Steve Blatenford, a Spectrum Green Team member.

Spectrum Health is protecting the environment’s resources and enhancing value through responsible energy and waste management.  Spectrum Health established a system-wide sustainability council to develop a long-term sustainability strategy and vision for the organization. Spectrum has launched programs including their Community Commitment Fund, recycling programs, noninvasive reprocessing, pharmaceutical waste programs, reusable sharps containers, Zero Waste to Landfill program, and battery recycling program. Learn more at https://www.spectrumhealth.org/about-us/corporate-social-responsibility/sustainability.