New Coca-Cola Partnership Can Help Methodist Hit 50% Waste Diversion Goal

Did you know that Methodist has set a waste diversion goal of 50% by 2030? This goal includes overall waste reduction efforts along with targeted waste diversion to either recycling or compost solutions instead of sending materials to a landfill.

While Methodist sites like the 825 Building have greatly improved waste diversion due to practices like composting and removing personal waste bins from the office area, the health system as a whole has work to do.

Moving forward, more locations than ever have access to composting, and exciting work is being done to tackle our waste diversion goal. Meanwhile, Sustainability Ambassador Leadership Teams (SALTs) are taking on ambitious projects to help Methodist achieve its waste diversion goal and to reduce overall waste produced at each Methodist site. The SALT chairs have expanded recycling knowledge and access at their locations by adding additional recycling bins and signage, coordinating more frequent pickups, spreading recycling to new areas, and conducting a series of waste sorting educational programs.

New Compostable Cups

The new partnership between Methodist and Coca-Cola brought a new compostable cup that can be reused for a discount once per day at the cafes at Methodist Hospital, Methodist Women's Hospital and Methodist Fremont Health. These cups are compostable (if the straws are removed) at all locations that offer composting:

• Methodist Hospital
• Nebraska Methodist College
• 825 Building

At all other locations, these cups must be thrown away in the trash, as they are NOT recyclable!

Please note that when waste is sorted into the wrong bins, it contaminates the recycling and decreases the likelihood that the batch will be recycled, reducing the diversion rate. Look out for signs that show how to properly sort the most common items from Methodist’s cafes near the waste bins at all locations. 

When composting isn’t an option, you’re encouraged to use reusable cups, such as the reusable Coke cup that employees received in the spring. That cup also receives a discount in Methodist cafes and eliminates waste associated with your daily drinks.

Photo Contest, and How to Get Involved With Sustainability at Methodist

We want to see how you contribute to waste reduction with reusable cups! Enter our “Where do you reuse?” photo challenge showing us how you’ve personalized your reusable cups or where you use them for a chance to win a $20 gift card to Coneflower Creamery!

Interested in learning more about Methodist’s sustainability efforts? Visit the sustainability page on the MHS intranet. To get involved in efforts to foster a culture of sustainability at Methodist, sign up for the Sustainable Health Implementation Plan (SHIP) Ambassador program.