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University of Kansas Hospital to be Honored for Reducing Waste

Release Date: 01/13/2012
Contact Information: Kris Lancaster, (913) 551-7557, lancaster.kris@epa.gov

Environmental News

NEWS MEDIA ADVISORY

(Kansas City, Kan., Jan. 13, 2012) - The University of Kansas Hospital of Kansas City, Kan., will be honored next week by EPA for reducing its volume of solid waste through innovative recycling programs. EPA will present a 2011 WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for waste reduction in the workplace.

The hospital has made significant strides in protecting the environment through recycling, waste reduction, environmentally preferable purchasing, education and community involvement. Since 2010, the hospital has diverted more than 540,000 pounds of solid waste from local landfills.

WasteWise is a free, voluntary EPA program that helps businesses reduce their environmental impact and find cost savings through innovative waste reduction and recycling activities. The program provides an online reporting system called Re-TRAC, which allows members to track waste generation and reduction activities, generate customized reports, and calculate their greenhouse gas emission reductions and environmental impacts.

A tour of the University of Kansas Hospital, at 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, in Kansas City, Kan., will be held for news media and public from 12:15 to 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 17. A news conference will follow at 1:00 p.m. at the same location.

WHAT: Recognition of the University of Kansas Hospital

WHEN: 1:00 p.m., January 17, 2012 (Tour of the hospital will begin in the main lobby at 12:15 p.m.)

WHERE: Rieke Auditorium, 39^th Street and Cambridge Avenue, Kansas City, Kan. 66160 (Parking is available at 39^th Street parking garage.)

WHO: EPA Region 7 Deputy Regional Administrator Mark Hague, University of Kansas Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Bob Page, University of Kansas Hospital Vice President of Operations Dwight Kasperbauer, and Kansas Department of Health and Environment Public Service Liaison Rodney Ferguson

The University of Kansas Hospital is affiliated with the University of Kansas Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions, and its various research projects. The facility contains 576 staffed beds (plus 24 bassinets) and serves nearly 27,000 inpatients annually.

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