SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Centralia is leading the way in local sustainability efforts. As Arbor Day approaches, this local health care ministry is standing strong on its commitment to create healthier communities. The hospital’s recycling program, led by the SSM Health Environmental Services and Plant Operations departments, are responsible for 20,000 pounds of recycled material in just the first quarter of 2025 alone.
SSM Health is an organization led by the values of its founding religious sisters. The health care ministry’s focus on being good stewards of their resources has paved the way for the creation of this highly successful recycling program.
“It’s both inspiring and humbling to witness SSM Health's values in action. I take great pride in the efforts put into our recycling program. Our team consistently exceeds expectations in their roles, and the positive results of their work are evident in our patients' experiences and within our local community,” says Doris Arnold, Operations Manager of Environmental Services at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital - Centralia.
Last year in 2024, the health care organization unveiled their first solar farm in Centralia, IL. This initiative was set in place to help reduce the health system’s carbon footprint and honors the commitment the system made to the White House’s climate pledge for health care organizations to become carbon-neutral by 2050.
SSM Health has been a pioneer in the preservation of the earth for more than 25 years, beginning by significantly reducing the use of plastic water bottles in its facilities. The health system has also been active in diverting hundreds of tons of surgical waste from landfills, designing facilities with the use of green and LEED standards, planting trees, and investing in funds that promote environmentally friendly practices.
About SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia
SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia, operating in partnership with the Felician Sisters, is a 113-bed hospital specializing in behavioral health, bariatric surgery, wound/hyperbaric care, cancer treatments, and minimally invasive general surgical care along with pediatric emergency and NICU telemedicine program in conjunction with the physicians at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital of St. Louis, Mo.
In 2016, SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital was named a “Best Hospital” by US News and World Report for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award for seven years in a row; the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award five years in a row; and in recent years the Critical Care Excellence Award. It also was recognized in 2016 through Quest by Premier Inc. with the Citation of Merit Award for High-Value Healthcare.
For more information, visit us at ssmhealth.com or find us on Facebook.
