Atlantic Health System Leader Honored With Sustainability Award

Carolyn Brown-Dancy, Director Environmental Health and Safety, Atlantic Health System, views the healthcare system’s mission of “Building Healthier Communities” as an opportunity to be a leader in sustainability. Her leadership commitment to create award-wining programs and implement programs to dramatically reduce waste and increase recycling earned her the Leadership Award from the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Association of New Jersey Recyclers. The award was presented at the Annual New Jersey Recycling Symposium and Awards Luncheon.

“It’s an honor to receive this award and I am grateful to Atlantic Health System’s leadership who realized the impact we could have on our communities and future generations by implementing innovative solutions to be a sustainability leader,” said Carolyn. “By taking a system-wide approach to sustainability, we are able to deliver high-quality care while raising the bar on environmental excellence.”

Atlantic Health System has achieved the following:

• Eliminated plastic straws in its cafeterias

• Implemented a system-wide recycling initiative
• Added honeybees to the rooftops of each medical center
• Reduced medical waste
• Has gone mercury-free
• Collected and recycled more than 75,000 plastic bags from team members and provided reusable tote bags

• Implemented EPIC electronic medical records, resulting in a 27% paper usage reduction in 2018

The achievements and commitment to sustainability has earned the system numerous awards. Recently, Overlook Medical Center earned Practice Greenhealth’s highest honor, the Top 25 Environmental Excellence Award, for the second consecutive year, while Morristown, Newton, Chilton and Hackettstown medical centers, each received Practice Greenhealth’s Partner for Change Award. Last year, AHS received the Sustainable Business Leadership Award received from Sustainable New Jersey, the first and only healthcare system to receive this award.

The NJDEP, in conjunction with the Association of New Jersey Recyclers, annually recognizes excellence in recycling in order to highlight program successes achieved by agencies, businesses, individuals and others who help keep New Jersey communities clean and healthy.