Published: November 14, 2009 08:31 pm      

RGH to begin effort on America Recycles Day

Today, and on Nov. 15 each year, millions of people become better informed about the importance of recycling.

Now in its 12th year, America Recycles Day continues to inform Americans about the benefits of daily recycling and encourages them to buy recycled products.

Several organizations will join in the annual celebration, but one Raleigh County employer is kicking off a hospital-wide initiative to go green.

Raleigh General Hospital has implemented a recycling program that will provide venues for all its patients and employees to recycle.

“We have 53 recycling stations throughout the hospital and on our satellite campuses, like the old Beckley Hospital and across the street at our new imaging center,” said Matt Hess, human resources director at RGH.

Hess, who is overseeing the project, says each station includes two bins, one for paper and one for bottles and cans.

“Ideally, we are hoping to inspire more people to recycle on their own time,” he explained. “There’s just a lot of waste, so our goal is to divert trash from the landfill to the recycling center so that we can provide a more sustainable environment and reuse our waste.

“I guess it is thinking of the future,” he added. “We just think it is the right thing to do.”

Lisa Suggs, recycling coordinator for the Raleigh County Solid Waste Authority, said organizers hope Raleigh General’s efforts will encourage other large organizations in the area to follow its lead.

“It is really a significant thing in the community for RGH to go green,” Suggs said.

The recycling coordinator said America Recycles Day is a day to make others aware of the need to recycle. “At the SWA, we try to recycle and be as green and environmentally aware as we can be, every day of the year.”

The Solid Waste Authority has been working with Raleigh General Hospital several months to get everything set up to start the hospital’s recycling project.

RGH’s recycling committee, titled “Helping Others, Protecting Earth,” is made up of Richard Pittman, Kevin McGraw, Kathy Bailey, Scott Peyton, Sherry Dillon and Jim Bills.

America Recycles Day is a nationwide initiative of Keep America Beautiful Inc. and the National Recycling Coalition.

— E-mail: cclark@register-herald.com