Every time you recycle, you are helping our community in more ways than one!

When we recycle, we can feel proud knowing we are taking steps to reduce our environmental footprint. But did you know that when you recycle, you are also supporting healthcare right here, in the Comox Valley?

Today, Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation (CVHF) and Emterra Environmental celebrated how the actions of Comox and Courtenay residents contributed to Emterra’s generous donation of $3,234 to healthcare! Under Emterra’s ‘Make Your Contribution at the CurbTM’ Community Care Program, the recycling company donated $1 for every tonne of recyclables that residents placed at their curb over the last year and a half.

Emterra has supported the Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation for the past seven years. Today’s donation brings their total gifts to date to $26,034. That’s over 26,000 tonnes of recyclables diverted from the landfill, while also supporting healthcare close to home.

The Foundation is honoured to recognize the impact of cumulative giving on the donor wall located in the lobby of the hospital.  Emterra’s latest gift to the foundation moves the company from recognition at the Leader level to Champion.

“Emterra has a proud track record of transforming waste to valuable resources. This year is special because we are celebrating our 45th anniversary of helping to make the communities we serve a little greener,” said Dave Ross, Emterra Environmental’s North Island Operations Manager.

“We are grateful to have a healthcare facility like the North Island Hospital – Comox Valley nearby and we are pleased that we can provide support in the way of this gift. We linked the gift to the amount residents recycle each year to encourage people to always do a little more. It helps the hospital, and it helps the environment,” Mr. Ross added.

Joining in today’s presentation at the hospital were Comox Mayor, Russ Arnott, and Courtenay Acting Mayor for Courtenay, Will Cole-Hamilton, as well as CVHF Board of Directors President, Bill Anglin.

“On behalf of the Foundation Board, I would like to thank Emterra for their continuous philanthropy and a huge thank you to all of you in our community. This program would not be possible without your continuous recycling efforts,” Bill Anglin said.

This Emterra donation will contribute to the purchase of an ENT StealthStation™ Surgical Navigation System for the Comox Valley Hospital.

In a typical year, an ENT specialist at the Comox Valley Hospital would perform over 200 surgical procedures while also providing care for patients with a variety of concerns, including hearing and balance challenges, allergies and sinus issues, and head and neck cancer.

With the ENT StealthStation™ equipment, the hospital will be able to recruit and retain a highly skilled ENT specialist who will use it to increase surgical treatment options and improve outcomes for sinus surgery patients in the Comox Valley and across the North Island. The recruitment of an ENT specialist for the Comox Valley is crucial. Additionally, the Comox Valley Hospital recently expanded surgical capacity to five operating rooms and has extended into evening hours, in order to ensure patients continue to receive the best possible care, close to home.

“With gratitude for Emterra’s steadfast commitment to healthcare, we are one step closer to securing this essential ENT equipment for our local hospital. Next time you recycle, you can feel good knowing that you are doing your part to help the environment, while simultaneously supporting health care in the Comox Valley. Thank you!” said the foundation’s executive director, Jessica Aldred.