In 2019 the state of Connecticut enacted Executive Order 1 which involved goals for state institutions to reduce waste through an expanded “Lead by Example” sustainability initiative. In an effort to expand sustainability in healthcare, food waste diversion was identified as a way for healthcare institutions, such as opens in a new windowConnecticut Valley Hospital (CVH), to successfully meet this goal.
Working Together to Prevent Food Waste
Located in Middletown, Connecticut, CVH sought new ways to reduce food waste after previously partnering with a pig farm. With the goal of collecting and diverting food waste from the trash, the hospital devised a system to store scraps in a cooler in between pickups. The opens in a new windowConnecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) connected CET with the hospital and then worked with CET to provide assistance throughout the year to help CVH prepare for storing and collecting food scraps. CET assisted CVH by moving the process forward, meeting frequently to check in while CVH worked on soliciting bids for a freezer.
Sustainability at the Hospital
CET also connected CVH with opens in a new windowBlue Earth Compost which now takes the hospital’s scraps for processing at an anaerobic digestion facility. CET provided signage for the new system and the hospital trained its staff internally on new processes. Currently, the main kitchen is collecting and diverting food scraps. Looking to the future, CVH may set goals to reduce overall waste generated on the campus.
How to Make Your Healthcare Institution More Sustainable
CET has helped many businesses and institutions in Connecticut learn more about food recovery and wasted food diversion opportunities. When it comes to preventing and diverting a wide range of materials from disposal, we can offer no-cost support.
We help a range of businesses and institutions, from those just getting started to those who want to take their existing efforts to the next level. Whether you’re looking to reduce wasted food or just your waste in general, we can help. If you are interested in learning more about sustainability in healthcare or your business is interested in increasing its waste diversion efforts at no cost, please contact CET at (888) 410-3827 or email us at ReduceWasteCT@cetonline.org.
