OSMH Recycling & Composting Quick Guide
Helping Keep OSMH Green, One Item at a Time
OSMH Recycling & Composting Quick Guide
Helping Keep OSMH Green, One Item at a Time
The OSMH Green Team Committee is a group of dedicated team members who help support environmental sustainability across the hospital. The committee works to promote greener practices, share education and resources, and encourage simple everyday actions that help reduce waste and keep OSMH green.
Recycling and composting correctly helps OSMH reduce landfill waste, improve our diversion rate, and support our sustainability goals. When in doubt, check this guide or contact the Green Team. Proper sorting matters because even small amounts of contamination can send recyclable or compostable materials to landfill.
♻️ RECYCLE RIGHT
YES – Recycle These Items
- Clean office paper
- Newspapers and flyers
- Flattened cardboard
- Empty plastic containers
- Empty metal containers
- Empty glass containers
Remember: Containers must be clean and free of food or liquid before recycling.
NO – Do Not Recycle
- Plastic cutlery
- Tim Hortons cups
- Food-soiled items
- Items containing liquids
- Mixed-material items that can’t be easily separated
- Gloves, PPE, or clinical waste
These items belong in garbage unless otherwise specified.
🍎 COMPOST CORRECT
Where Composting is Available
Composting is currently available in:
- Kendall’s Café
- Designated food service areas
Important: Composting at OSMH is not the same as composting at home. Follow OSMH guidelines and posted signage.
YES – Compost These Items
- Fruit and vegetable scraps
- Meat products
- Dairy products
- Eggshells
- Coffee grounds
- Tea bags and filters
- Leftover prepared foods
- Paper napkins used with food
- Compostable food-soiled paper products
- Green compostable cutlery, cups, and takeout containers from Kendall’s Café (use during team BBQ’s too!)
NO – Do Not Compost
- Plastic bags
- Plastic wrappers or packaging
- Styrofoam
- Coffee pods
- Regular plastic cutlery
- Tim Hortons cups
- White paper towel
- Gloves, PPE, or clinical waste
- Any item not labelled compostable
🔋 BATTERY RECYCLING
YES – Recycle Batteries
Battery recycling bins are available throughout OSMH.
Common accepted items include:
- AA batteries
- AAA batteries
- C batteries
- D batteries
- Other household-type batteries accepted through the program
NEVER Place Batteries In:
- Garbage bins
- Blue recycling bins
Battery Safety
- Tape battery terminals when required.
- Do not place damaged, leaking, or swollen batteries in collection bins without guidance.
- Contact your manager if you are unsure how to dispose of a battery safely.
🌎 Why It Matters
OSMH achieved a waste diversion rate of 50.2%, and waste audits show that even more material could be diverted through proper recycling and composting practices. Every correctly sorted item helps reduce landfill waste and supports a more sustainable hospital.
Questions?