Found this fabulous option for bed pans....

Fabulous biodegradable bed pans. Okay so biodegradable bed pans are neither here nor there when it comes to your health, but seeing as hospitals have quite a large waste stream (not much that you can just trash when it comes to contaminated objects), this is one more way to keep what they can out of local landfills. I LOVE IT!

Continence aids clogging Landfill

An issue that I feel very strongly about. Adult incontinence pads amounted to less than one percent of total landfill waste just two decades ago. Today, that number is closer to 7% and climbing. These pads are typically made from plastic and other non-biodegradable products meaning that not only is the volume of space they are filling up rising, but they're also not breaking down any time soon. With a rising aging population and more incontinence pads headed to landfills, are there any alternatives on the horizon?

Since continence aids are meant to be leak-proof and hold the water in, often times they have a plastic outer shell. While this plastic outer shell does its job in terms of avoiding messes, it also means that when it goes to the landfill, it's setting up permanent shop there for up to hundreds of years. The "filling" of the pads is typically made from a wood-pulp and petroleum-based synthetic-polymer filling. While the wood-pulp will eventually break down, the synthetic polymer is not going anywhere any time soon. Yet, these pulp materials are typically coated in chemicals that are not only harmful to your health but also won't break down in a landfill. Plus, once these two fillers are mixed with the human waste, it's hard to separate the biodegradable parts out so nothing biodegrades.

I have broached this subject with our TENA representative, how is it there are biodegradable babies nappies why can't there be the same for Adult continent aids?

AND.......

Is it really possible to set up vermicomposting to compost our pads?

How we are striving to conserve Energy...

Energy efficient lighting systems -
o Remove unnecessary lighting
o Replace fixtures with T5 fluorescent, CFL, LED, etc.
o Utilise task lighting rather than whole room lighting in offices
o Balance lighting system efficiency with the promotion of circadian rhythm to ensure
health and well being of our residents
• Utilise energy efficient appliances and electronics, and set minimum ‘star-rating’ standards for new purchases.
Switching the lights off when not in use
o Reducing standby power: turning off computer monitors when not in use, and all
electronics at the wall
o Activating ‘energy save’ features on all electronics
o Turning off kitchen burners when not in use
o Monitoring excessive use of AC, and utilising fans and natural ventilation instead when reasonable. This will also serve to improve resident and employee health and wellbeing.

Sustainable Actions....

Sharing information on what may seem to be trivial actions can make a BIG difference in our workplace and the broader community! While we continue ‘taking care of the lives in our hands', we must also strive to take care of the environment on which those lives, and our future generations depend. Turning off the light when you leave the room, turning off taps properly after use, installing rainwater tanks or solar hot water systems, engaging staff in recycling schemes, organising car pooling programs, providing bike racks to promote cycling to work or even composting your organic wastes at home?

Kind Regards,

The Sustainability Committee

Bupa Care Services - Australia

Earth Hour 2010

Bupa Roseville along with the Sustainability Committee at Bupa Care Services are encouraging staff, Residents and Relatives to become involved in Earth Hour this year. At a facility level this year we will be ensuring that only the most essential lighting is left on between 8.30pm and 9.30pm. I'm hoping it will also reignite awareness to the staff to carry this on well after Earth Hour has ended.

We are going GREEN....slowly.....

We have made the move to Recycled paper for all printing, attempting to limit printing material, energy saving light bulbs, water saving shower heads are being fitted to hand held shower nozzles, planting of trees, and strict recycling.

Craft Expo 11 March 2010

Craft Show here we come. 12 Residents and 5 staff went of to the craft expo at the Show Ground at Homebush Bay. We were greeted with knitters, quilters, beaders, a feast for the eyes. It was a hive of activity. We all agreed there were alot of very clever people in the world. The highlights were the amazing baby doll stall. The babies were so realistic, Jean wanted to bring one home and cuddle it all night. They were so beautiful, and realistic, the weight was so lifelike, ones maternal instinct instantly kicked in, and had us rocking them off to sleep. We might have to save up for a couple. Then there was the quilt exhibition, utilising some stunning Amy Butler fabrics, and other incredible textures. We decided to purchase some gorgeous stamps and watercolour pens to make cards with. A great day, if not a little exhausting.

Pen Pals

We received some wonderful letters from the Year 5 & 6 girls at Wenona School today. There was a letter per resident. It was so lovely to see the look on the faces of the residents as they read the letters, which introduced the girls, what their favourite things about school are, and the hobbies they enjoyed. The plan is to continue writing to each other, in the event that we have a function towards the end of the year to meet with the students. One of the gentlemen quickly penned a reply by stating "how lovely it was to hear from such nice school girls and to read the differences in schools these day"