At Intermountain Health, we are committed to reducing our environmental impact and promoting sustainability. Our dedication to responsible stewardship is evident in our efforts to support both the health of our planet and the wellbeing of our communities. This Earth Month, we are proud to highlight our 2025 theme: Healthy Earth, Healthy Body.
Pitching Plastics
One of our key initiatives is reducing plastic use. Recognizing the environmental drawbacks of plastic, which can only be recycled once or twice, we have shifted to aluminum water bottles. Aluminum can be endlessly recycled, significantly reducing its ecological footprint. This change is crucial, considering that 60%-80% of all marine litter is plastic. By choosing sustainable alternatives, we are making a positive impact on our environment.
Rocking Food Recycling
Our food recycling efforts are making a remarkable difference in waste management. In 2024 alone, we diverted over 600,000 pounds of food waste from landfills, conserving metric tons of CO2 emissions—equivalent to the emissions from 32,132,140 smartphones. This initiative began in 2018 with food waste recycling at just two hospitals and has expanded to 13 hospitals by 2024.
Leaving Landfills Alone
In 2024, Intermountain Health successfully diverted 42% of its waste from landfills, demonstrating our substantial commitment to waste reduction and sustainability. This accomplishment reflects our ongoing efforts to create a healthier environment for all.
Still Inquisitive...?
By promoting education and awareness, we are fostering a collective mindset focused on creating a sustainable future. Here are some easy ways to embrace a bright new sustainable season:
Recycle Your Cans!
Every 100 recycled cans save:
- Enough energy to run a television or computer for 300 hours
- 50 gallons of gasoline (65 gallons of gasoline equates to one ton of mixed paper)
Lowering Water Usage
- One drip per second from a faucet wastes 540 gallons of water a year
- Less strain on water resources like reservoirs and lakes while protecting fragile ecosystems
- Improved water quality for the natural environment by reducing wastewater that needs chemical treatment
Recycling (or Not Using) Plastics
- For every 2,000 pounds of recycled plastic, 2,000 pounds of oil and two months of water used by one individual are saved
- Avoid traditional paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper—they are not recyclable
Check Out What is a YES:
- Textiles, carpets, insulation, flowerpots, and recycling bins are manufactured using recycled products
- An aluminum can, when recycled, is back on the shelf as a new can in as little as 60 days
- Recycling five plastic soda bottles yields enough fiber for one extra-large T-shirt, one square foot of carpet, or enough fiber fill to fill one ski jacket
- One ton of paper from recycled pulp saves 17 trees and 7,000 gallons of water, and prevents 60 pounds of air pollutants
Let’s keep our eyes on the horizon: healthy earth, healthy body. If you would like to learn more about Intermountain’s Environmental Health and Sustainability work, click here. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas concerning Intermountain’s Environmental Health and Sustainability work, you can reach out to sustainability@imail.org.