The Inova health system in Northern Virginia plans to eliminate plastic straws and reduce single-use plastic items in its facilities’ public areas, including cafeterias and gift shops in all five hospitals in the system.
Inova currently uses three million straws annually or a mile of straws every day, according to Health Facilities Management. The initiative is part of Inova’s larger plan to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic items, such as utensils, coffee stirrers, dishware, and cups.
Inova is looking into environmentally friendly alternatives for products that cannot be completely eliminated. It has replace plastic straws with a more environmentally friendly paper version the system says will last two to three drinks. Plastic straws still will be available for anyone who needs one, but Inova is encouraging people to skip the straw if they can.
The systemwide initiative began eliminating plastic straws from public areas, such as cafeteria settings on America Recycles Day, which is Nov. 15.
Cathryn Jakicic is healthcare industries editor of FacilitiesNet.com. For more information on hospital campuses and other medical facilities, click here.
