News Releases from Region 03

EPA lauds Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center with a Federal Green Challenge Award for diverting waste into productive reuse

PHILADELPHIA (Nov. 12, 2019) -- In concert with Veterans Day and America Recycles Day which both occur this week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency came to Coatesville to congratulate the Veterans Affairs Medical Center for winning the Federal Green Challenge Award for its sustainability efforts focused on recycling and reuse.

“We are here today to honor our Veterans and thank the Medical Center for its commitment to meaningful environmental improvement,” said Cosmo Servidio, EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator.  “We need federal agencies to help protect their community’s public health and environment, and also to inspire other agencies to follow your example.”

Winners in the Federal Green Challenge are selected for having the greatest percentage of positive environmental change over the previous year, among federal participants.

The Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center is a national winner in the Waste Diversion Category.  It diverted waste and put it back into productive reuse by 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 limbs and trees.

The Federal Green Challenge is a voluntary, yearlong commitment in which federal participants focus on finding more ways to efficiently manage their resources to reduce the costs of building operations, maintenance, and supplies. 

For more information on the Federal Green Challenge, and this year’s national and regional winners, visit https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/fgc/federal-green-challenge-awards.

For more information on America’s Recycling Day, visit https://19january2021snapshot.epa.gov/americarecycles/america-recycles-day.