Long Beach : Hospital Begins Recycling of Non-Infectious Waste

Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach began a hospital-wide recycling program Wednesday with the planting of a sycamore tree in the center’s front lawn. Hospital officials say the program will make the 998-bed hospital the biggest medical recycler on the West Coast.

The hospital sends 36 tons of non-infectious waste to landfills each week. Hospital officials hope they can cut this figure by one-fourth and recycle 9 tons a week.

Employees are being asked to toss copy and computer paper and cardboard into recycling containers near computers, and plastic foam products, glass and aluminum into separate barrels placed in cafeterias. The hospital by law must continue to haul all infectious waste to landfills.