Recycling glass formula bottles

Specialties NICU

Published

Do any of you recycle the glass formula bottles? We started several years ago in our dept. then we added pp and peds. We used the money to buy goodies, swing sets, vibrating baby seats, radio/CD players etc. for each area. Stuff that wasn't in the department budgets. Housekeeping liked it, less liquid in the trash cans, made the sacks much lighter. We also took back soda cans and plastic recycleable bottles. The hospital took over our project a couple of years ago(after we had recycled over 20,000# of glass). Now the money has disappeared, probably into the General Fund, even though we were told it would come back to the depts.

KRVRN, BSN, RN

1,334 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

We recycle our soda cans but not our glass bottles. Definitely would be good idea though.

OBNURSEHEATHER

1,961 Posts

Yup! We have a special blue trash can next to our regular one that we put our glass formula bottles in.

Heather

Heather333

206 Posts

We recycle our glass bottles....Not sure if we get any money for it.

Heather

semstr

577 Posts

We recycle the bottles, tin cans, paper (no not the pampers) and plastic.

We have to it's a federal law here, to recycle as much as possible.

We all have at least 2 or 3 different bags at home too, to put everything in.

bwsmit7

1 Post

I know this is an old thread but how does one go about locating some of these glass bottles/lids....we need some for art mediums, etc.

SheaTabRN

35 Posts

>>

How much money did your dept make that you are aware of with your recycling? Where did this money come from? Anyone with more information... please share.

Thanks!

Tab

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN

1,142 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

For a long time, we made a nickel a pound for the glass. We also recycled plastic bottles and soda cans. The money went to extras for the units involved. Small stereos for each area at first (something for the nurses to encourage them to recycle).

We stored the glass on the units, and took a pick-up load at a time to the Recycling center. Frequently 400-600lbs at a time......this was done by nurses who volunteered to help out, not the management. It was also spent the same way.

If you want to recycle, call around the different places around to see where you would get the best rate. We started small, a couple of bags at a time, but it soon took off. Initially the containers came from the hospital recycling budget, but the work was left to us.

I have found out that the hospital doesn't get anything back, now, it all goes to the group doing the recycling. It's an organization that provides work for underemployed young people. Our census has increased over the last four years, so we must be using a lot more glass. It sounds good, but the depts. still have no money for the extras. I have bought things out of my own pocket, for my unit.

pm me if you want to know anything else.

Mimi

kitty29

404 Posts

We recycle everything we can here....it's house wide.

SheaTabRN

35 Posts

I spoke with my management about recycling and their concern was "the attraction of pests." We live in Florida and bugs are often a problem. Let me say that I have NEVER seen an insect in my NICU! They said that even if you rinse the glass bottles the scent would remain. Have any of you had this sort of problem? Where did you store the empty bottles as they were accumulating... or once the bag was full (before taking it to the recycling center)? This sounds like such a good idea. Not to mention the fact that it's environmentally friendly.

Thanks!

Tabitha

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN

1,142 Posts

Specializes in NICU.

We never have had a problem with attracting pests, at least the buggy kind.

We used storage rooms in various places, as we had several departments, apart from our level II nursery, where it all started. We used plastic bags in the recycling containers, tied them off when they were as full as we could lift comfortably (25-35lbs). The problems....people who considered them trash cans...straws, plastic cups, coffee grounds...etc. etc. We used gloves to handle the bottles, which were rinsed first.

The trip to the Recycling center was on our own time.

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