Recognition is an important part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC). Awards were given in the categories of innovation and waste diversion in the Mid-Atlantic region.

In Region 3, which serves Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, the 2019 regional award winners are the Department of Veterans Affairs, James E. Van Zandt Veterans Affairs Medical Center; and the Department of Veterans Affairs, Coatesville VA Medical Center. The award winners shared details about their diversion activities, and about their awards with EPA. Below are the stories they tell behind their accomplishments.

Innovation

Department of Veterans Affairs, James E. Van Zandt VA Medical Center, Altoona, Penn.

The James E Van Zandt VA Medical Center is being recognized for their continuing work in sustaining their Green Teams, which have made a difference by identifying and resolving issues in an innovative manner. Teams do assessments in their working areas to recycle paper, turn off lights and motivate and challenge other teams to be greener. The Green Team from the Procedure Clinic named themselves GANG GREEN, got green t-shirts with their name on it, and established an email group to exchange ideas in greening the operating room. They have well over 90 percent of the employees in the clinic actively on their Green Team and are promoting the program to all new employees.

Waste Diversion

Department of Veterans Affairs, Coatesville VA Medical Center, Coatesville, Penn.

The Coatesville VA Medical Center is being recognized for recycling 1,450 tons of materials; sending 17.5 tons of wood waste to shred into an absorbent material which is processed at an environmental recovery center; and composting all grass clippings, leaves, and wood from downed trees/limbs.

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