Wagga Wagga Base Hospital celebrated for sustainability excellence
The winning nomination, Towards Net Zero Through High Value Health Care at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, highlights the hospital’s efforts to reduce its environmental footprint while continuing to deliver high-quality healthcare for the community.
The award recognises organisations that demonstrate a strong commitment to sustainable business practices and reducing the environmental impact of their operations. Finalists were assessed on initiatives and achievements delivered between May 2025 and May 2026.
Among the initiatives implemented by teams all over WWBH was a new food organics diversion program that is expected to divert at least 161 kilograms of food waste from landfill each week and prevent an estimated 17.68 tonnes of CO₂-e emissions annually. Plans are already underway to expand the program to Griffith Base Hospital and other facilities.
A successful soft plastics recycling trial, delivered in partnership with Wagga Wagga City Council, diverted approximately 20 kilograms of plastic wrap from landfill each week. The initiative is now being expanded across Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD), as well as parts of Southern NSW and South Western Sydney Local Health Districts.
Simple changes have also delivered significant results. Updated auto-printer settings increased the number of patients receiving discharge summaries from 44 per cent to 54 per cent, reducing paper use and increasing workforce efficiency. Work is underway to implement the initiative more broadly across MLHD and Southern NSW Local Health District.
The hospital has also embraced circular economy principles through initiatives such as a compression device return program, which diverted 272 kilograms of waste, and a nurse uniform repurposing program that prevented more than 65 kilograms of textiles from entering landfill. Additional recycling programs continue to divert soft plastic wrap from linen trolleys, medication blister packs, batteries and printer cartridges from landfill.
Following its regional success, the nomination will now advance to the NSW Business State Awards, which will be held in Sydney on 30 October.
This recognition is a testament to the dedication, innovation and collaboration of staff across WWBH, whose efforts are helping to reduce emissions create a healthier future for both the community and the environment.