Ascension St. Vincent's Clay County isn't just an award-winning hospital for patient care; it's also being honored for its sustainability efforts.
The hospital has been honored with a 2025 Environmental Excellence award from Practice Greenhealth for its commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability achievements.
The hospital has been named a Greenhealth Partner for Change, which recognizes superior performance in environmental sustainability, encompassing various sustainability programs and activities. The hospital was selected due to its programs aimed at recycling and reducing solid waste.
The hospital’s endo recycling program recycles every possible plastic item that is used for procedures in each of its three endoscopy rooms. Socks used by patients are also cleaned and then donated to local churches to provide to the homeless. Blood pressure cuffs and pulse oximeter cables are also collected to be recycled.
The hospital’s “Unusual but Usable Produce” program reduces organic waste from its cafeterias by distributing healthy food items that might have otherwise been disposed of because of an unattractive appearance. For food products that can’t be redistributed, the hospital employs a food waste digester that uses microorganisms and oxygen to digest food leftovers. Instead of going to landfills, the resulting gray water from the digester is discharged to local municipal wastewater treatment plants.
This is the second consecutive year that St. Vincent's Clay County has been honored.
