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The Medical Clinic of North Texas Takes it to the Boards
The Medical Clinic of North Texas, OBGYN South, is located in the USMD
hospital at Matlock and I-20. The Clinic, which has 23 staff members,
specializes in women's health and obstetrics. Recycling efforts started
several months ago when Glenda Thompson, one of the nurses, drew the staff’s
attention to the amount of waste being generated by the office and sent to
the landfill. Glenda organized a "green team" to address environmental
issues such as recycling but also introduced ways the office could reduce
the amount of “stuff” being generated in the first place. Paper plates and
plastic cutlery were soon after replaced by ceramic dishes and silverware
donated by various staff members. A member of the Green Team volunteers to
run the dishwasher and unload it the next morning. The change from paper and
Styrofoam to "real dishes and silverware" has cut down on the accumulation
of trash in the office and this in turn helps conserve space at the
landfill.
The old saying "If you build it, they will come" has new meaning at the
Clinic. Once the bins were in place and recycling was implemented, staff
enthusiastically embraced the change. The recyclables are collected in the
break room and are either taken home to be recycled in curbside bins, or to
a local Arlington drop-off site. To advertise the internal recycling program
and educate staff about other “green” things going on at work, there is a
designated bulletin board in the break room. There, staff can get program
recycling information, inspirational facts, and interesting environmental
statistics. To keep things fresh, each Monday a new "recycling fact" is
placed on the board. The Clinic has found that these fast facts are powerful
motivational tools. The information on the bulletin board helps put the
importance of recycling into perspective.
The Clinic’s Green Team meets once a month to discuss new ideas and
opportunities for expanding the program. Time is also spent recognizing the
success of past efforts and feeling really good about making a positive
difference.
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