Hospitals take part in effort to reduce waste, emissions

Agnes Winarti and Triwik Kurniasari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 11/17/2008 10:46 AM  

Green movements, which have sprouted up over the last few years, have encouraged hospitals in the capital to adopt environmentally friendly habits. 

State-own cancer hospital Dharmais in West Jakarta has been reducing its electricity and water usage, reusing paper and producing compost out of its organic waste for years, said head of public relations and domestic affairs at Dharmais, Bambang Purwanto, in a recent interview. 

Dharmais has been encouraging staff members to reuse administration papers and recycle organic waste as compost fertilizer for the past five years, Bambang said. 

"We can reduce up to one third of our monthly paper use, for instance, by using both sides of the paper for administration," Bambang told The Jakarta Post. 

He said the hospital produced up to a ton of compost every month, mostly used as fertilizer for plants on the hospital grounds. Dharmais stands on a 38,920-square-meter plot of land. 

"Several months ago, we began recycling our paper waste. We then use the recycled products as scrap paper," he said, hinting at a plan to go commercial with their recycled paper products some time in the future. 

Eight-story Dharmais has also reduced its use electricity and water usage over the last 10 years. 

"We have managed to cut some 20 percent off our monthly electricity and water expenses. So, we save hundreds of millions off monthly utility spending and use it for improving our employee's welfare," he said. 

"It is not an easy task raising people's awareness and changing their bad habits. They need to be constantly reminded. We make an effort even with the smallest of things." 

Bambang said the simplest yet strongest thing the hospital could do was put stickers on all electricity buttons and water taps reminding staff and patients to reduce their utilities usage when applicable. 

A banner placed in the hospital area encourages staff to set air conditioners at 25 degrees Celsius. 

After years, Dharmais has finally received public recognition for their environmentally friendly efforts. 

It was recently chosen as the first winner among nine other finalists in the Jakarta Green Office Competition co-sponsored by several NGOs and companies, including World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Indonesia, and the Jakarta Environmental Management Board (BPLHD). 

"We are very proud to win the award, especially because we are the only hospital participating in the event among dozens of other commercial companies," Bambang said. 

Over the past 10 years, the hospital has established a special team called the Energy Saving Team, which monitors excessive energy use. Any unit reported for failing to save energy will be reprimanded." 

The hospital recently does not only encourage electricity, paper and water savings, but also fuel consumption reductions by encouraging staff members to use public transportation, carpool, or cycle or walk to and from the hospital. 

Since it was established in 1993, Bambang said, Dharmais had its own waste management system for liquids as well as an incinerator to burn body parts taken during surgery and used-medical equipments, such as needles. 

Besides Dharmais, Persahabatan Hospital in Rawamangun, East Jakarta, is also promoting green habits. 

It has provided vast green areas in a bid to increase air quality around the hospital, said the hospital's director Agung P. Sutiyoso. 

"Providing a green and healthy environment is a part of our service to patients, so they will feel safe and comfortable," Agung said. 

"We believe good air quality at the hospital will fasten the patients' recovery," he said. 

He said Persahabatan had a 96,717-square-meter green area, more than 70 percent of its 134,521-square-meter plot of land. 

The hospital has its own water waste treatment plant, two incinerator machines and an environmental laboratory, he added. 

"In the near future, the hospital management will install a non-Freon air conditioner to curb green house emissions. We will also open a special clinic for smokers who want to quit smoking because smoking contributes to air pollution," he said. 

Persahabatan management also encourages their employees to adopt eco-friendly habits, such as using both sides of the paper and using water and electricity efficiently, said Oni Konsa, the hospital's gynecologist.