LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) – Mercy Health–St. Rita’s is helping local residents be a little greener on Earth Day.
The hospital hosted an E-waste recycle day on Tuesday, allowing people to dispose of nearly all types of electronic devices — except televisions — that have been cluttering their homes.
When electronic devices are not recycled or properly disposed of, they pose significant hazards because they contain substances like lead, mercury and cadmium, which can impact human and ecological health.
The hospital hosted an E-waste recycle day on Tuesday, allowing people to dispose of nearly all types of electronic devices.
“We see ourselves, especially from an environmental standpoint, just being really good stewards of the resources that we have. And so this is another way that we can kind of give back to the community from a recycling standpoint sustainability. And so that's that plays really big into the mission, and kind of and also has an impact around community health too,” says Tyler Smith, director of community health at Mercy Health–St. Rita’s.
Mercy Health also collected nearly 8 pounds of e-cigarettes from one local high school to dispose of safely and plans to expand the program to more high schools next year. This effort is part of the hospital’s anti-vaping campaign, which targets not only the dangers to students but also the environmental risks of e-cigarettes.
Mercy Health also collected nearly 8 pounds of e-cigarettes from one local high school to dispose of safely.
“The makeup of the e cigarette is super hazardous to the environment in general. It gets into the soil. Animals might eat it. It gets into the water, waterways. So, you know, hazardous for the youth, especially hazardous for everybody. But again, really hazardous for our environment,” says Catherine Lusky, community health coordinator.
If you or your teen would like to stop vaping, you can find help at www.livevapefree.com.
