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Hospital Department Makes 75 Green Certified Workplaces

The Department of Inpatient Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy uses a bicycle to haul compostable materials away and uses reusable water bottles, lunch boxes, and reusable silverware purchased from Duke Surplus to reduce their office waste.
The Department of Inpatient Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy uses a bicycle to haul compostable materials away and uses reusable water bottles, lunch boxes, and reusable silverware purchased from Duke Surplus to reduce their office waste.
Becky Hoeffler @SustainableDuke

The Department of Inpatient Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy recently earned Duke Green Workplace Certification, bringing the total to 75 certified green workplaces.

The department earned certification for its 75 staff members by completing 42 out of 58 items on the checklist, including some innovative ways to reduce waste and reuse materials.

For example, the department staff introduced compostable departmental pot lucks to help reduce food waste from their office.

“This is a unique initiative that involves collecting the compostable materials and carting it in a bike to a compost location on West Campus,” said Chiara Mecagni, a physical therapist in the department.

She said that the effort has helped highlight the need for more composting locations to increase accessibility for interested staff.

In order to encourage everyone in the department to participate, Mecagni said new staff are immediately oriented on existing sustainable initiatives around the office and reminders are sent out with meeting and event notices to encourage individuals to bring their own mug and silverware to limit the amount of disposability practiced around the office. The department also reduces waste by asking employees to print double-sided, cancel junk mail, use reusable bags, and designated a location for sharing unwanted office supplies.                

Becky Hoeffler, program coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, said that obtaining certification in a hospital setting can often prove more challenging, but the department was up to the task.

“The staff worked hard to accommodate green initiatives within the hospital setting,” she said. “In addition to achieving certification, they have set a wonderful example and model for others to follow.”

Duke's Officeof Sustainability administers the Duke Green Workplace Certification, which begins when a representative from a work area attends the free "Leading for Environmental Sustainability" workshop. As part of the workshop, participants receive a checklist of sustainable practices ranging from double-sided printing to using eco-friendly dishwashing soap in a break room. A work area that can demonstrate it follows at least 40 of the checklist's 58 items can apply for certification and permission to post the Duke Green Workplace seal in its office and on materials.

“We are pleased to be able to accomplish this on the hospital side of Duke, while following hospital policy and still instituting small changes that hopefully, will have a large impact on our daily lives and awareness,” Mecagni said.

View a complete list of certified offices and the actions they completed to earn certification.