MOORE — Norman Regional Health System is turning trash into treasure for man’s best friend. Used packaging material from the health system’s operating rooms is being donated to animal shelters to line the cages of dogs waiting for adoption.
Operating room supplies are packaged and shipped in sterile, disposable pads. Once the package is open, it cannot be used again and the Medical Center trashes 20 to 25 pounds a day.
Executive Secretary Julie Robberson read an article in a health magazine about a group of California health centers who were giving the used material to animal shelters.
Now operating rooms at Moore Medical Center, the HealthPlex and Norman Regional Hospital are collecting the packaging and donating it to local animals in need — including those at the City of Moore’s animal shelter.
Extra material will be shared with Second Chance and other shelters, Robberson said.
Staff at the animal shelter said they use newspaper to line the cages. The donated packaging is perfect for animals because of its absorbency and soft feel. The donated material also cleans up easier and faster than soiled newspapers.
“This is the first delivery today,” Robberson said. “Hopefully, we will get a good report with our next one.”
Employees of the animal shelters are excited about the donations, Robberson said.
“Our dogs are like our pets here,” Vanna Conway, with the City of Moore shelter said. “Everyone has a bed. For some reason, we think they all should.”
“And this will work a lot better than newspapers,” she said.
The hospital also donates expired medical supplies to veterinarians who donate their time at the local shelters.
Robberson is on the Norman Regional Health System’s Going Green committee which looks at ways to use hospital waste. It began at the Porter campus, Robberson said, but “now all three campuses look for ways to save money and donate equipment.
“I would like to thank everyone who helps with anything they donate to the shelters,” Robberson said.
