Mercury Reduction at Rogers Memorial Hospital

-Full replacement of their mercury-containing sphygmomanometers (225) resulting in the elimination of an estimated 61.25 pounds of mercury from their facility.

-Thermometer and barometer replacement resulting in a reduction of 53 pounds of mercury

-Replacement of high mercury containing fluorescent lamps with lower mercury lamps

-Plans in place to replace 43 mercury vapor lamps over time as they are taken out of service, which will result in an 18 pound reduction

-Changed in their purchasing policy to seek alternatives to mercury containing products where ever possible

-Extensive training on the hazards of mercury for hospital employees

-Implementation of a program to recycle mercury-containing amalgam generated from their dental service (666 mg recycled).

Beyond these mercury reduction actions, the VA is a member of MassRecycle’s, Hospital Recycling Council and is a recipient of the Institutional Recycling Award. In the last four years they have recycled 3,720,000 pounds of materials. In fiscal year 2000 alone they were recycling approximately 40 percent of their total solid waste.