Healthy Healthcare

Just attended the CleanMed conference here in Seattle in association with my position at the UW Medical Center. It is astounding how much sustainability is going on in the healthcare industry, from food and green building initiatives to waste reduction and organic cotton uniforms. One of my favorite people of all time is Yolanda Sinde of the Community Coalition for Environmental Justice. One of CCEJ's first projects (and huge successes) was putting a stop to medical waste incineration taking place near the central district here in Seattle. Medical waste incineration is known to produce dioxins and other carcinogens and they are often placed in low-income areas. Was also PSYCHED to see that PVC is being phased out throughout the industry. The social and environmental impact of PVC is still being debated but it is well known that when burned, it creates dioxins. Companies like Nike and Timberland have long been phasing out PVC, glad to see healthcare has finally joined in. Glad to see the healthcare industry is now seeing the light and I'm very excited to be involved with efforts at UW Medical Center.