Mercury-to-digital thermometer exchange, Saturday

The City of Fort Atkinson Wastewater Utility and Fort HealthCare will be holding a mercury-to-digital thermometer exchange at the Fort Atkinson Farmers Market on Saturday, September 3, 8:00 a.m. through Noon. The market is located in the Milwaukee street municipal parking lot across from the post office in downtown Fort Atkinson. This is the third and final thermometer drive underwritten by Fort HealthCare through the purchase of 200 digital thermometers.

The thermometer exchange is another example of both organizations’ efforts to encourage environmentally sensitive business practices. In April of 2008, the City of Fort Atkinson signed a Green Tier charter agreement to work collaboratively with the Department of Natural Resources to voluntarily reduce the discharge of mercury in the environment. Fort HealthCare is similarly committed to the promotion of healthier communities by serving as an environmental leader in all aspects of operations. Leadership recognizes the links between environmental health and public health, and acknowledges that reducing our negative impact on the environment is implicit in our Mission to improve the health status of our community.

Wisconsin’s Green Tier program rewards regulated and un-regulated businesses, communities and trade associations aspiring to deliver superior environmental performance. The law provides tools that allow for a transition from just compliance minimums to performance recognition systems. Green Tier uses collaborative, proactive relationships to find creative solutions to further protect, improve and restore Wisconsin’s environment while building business value and recognition.

In 2010, Fort HealthCare was recognized for its efforts to reduce mercury by Practice Greenhealth, a national membership organization for health care facilities committed to environmentally responsible operations. The award, “Making Medicine Mercury-Free” designates exceptional efforts to rid the health care sector of the harmful chemical mercury, commonly used in medical care. To learn more about Fort HealthCare’s efforts to improve the environment, visit FortHealthCare.com/Green.