Peterborough, ON – April is Earth Month, and Peterborough Regional Health Centre (PRHC) is pleased to announce that as part of our strategic commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship, the Surgical Department is launching a Bring Your Own Bag program to reduce the use of plastic at the hospital, and keep more plastic out of landfill.

When patients arrive for planned surgeries and other procedures, they are currently provided with a plastic bag to store their clothing and personal belongings for a few hours while they are at the hospital. The surgical department distributes as many as 24,000 bags to patients each year for this purpose – an annual environmental impact equivalent to driving around the earth 21 times. With the Bring Your Own Bag initiative, we are hoping to reduce that number by at least 20% in 2025/26.

PRHC is proud to participate in the ACS National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP), and to pursue this sustainability initiative as part of our ongoing efforts to improve the care and service we provide.

“We have set out a path to strengthen our focus on environmental stewardship over the next several years, and this initiative is just one of many opportunities we are pursuing at PRHC to improve sustainability and reduce our environmental impact,” said Dr. Lynn Mikula, President & CEO. “Last month, for example, we made the switch to a biodegradable nitrile glove product across the hospital. You can look forward to hearing more about these and other important improvement projects as we continue to make progress in this area.”

The new PRIMED Sustain nitrile gloves were adopted by PRHC in March 2025, and offer the same protection and achieve 81% biodegradability in 490 days. As an added bonus, PRIMED is a 100% Canadian-owned and operated business.

The Bring Your Own Bag initiative officially kicks off on June 1, 2025, to give people an opportunity to prepare for the change – but the hospital encourages patients to make the switch as soon as they can if they are coming to the hospital before that date for a procedure. Plastic bags will continue to be provided for patients who are unable to bring their own, including those who come to the hospital unexpectedly for urgent procedures.

The hospital recommends that patients bring along two empty, grocery-sized reusable bags that are big enough to store everything they wear to the hospital on the day of their procedure. (The second bag is recommended to store shoes/outerwear separately).

A reminder that when coming to the hospital for a procedure, you should only bring along essential items, and avoid bringing valuables, including jewelry, credit cards and large amounts of money. A checklist is provided in our surgical passport here.

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PRHC is the region’s largest employer, with more than 3,100 staff, 450 physicians with privileges and a core group of 250 volunteers delivering acute healthcare to a rapidly growing population of more than 300,000 in Peterborough and the surrounding communities, including the First Nations of Curve Lake, Alderville and Hiawatha. Last year, PRHC released its 2024-2029 Strategic Plan, which highlights our commitment to being a workplace where people can thrive. Learn more about PRHC’s strategic plan here.

For more information:
Michelene Ough | Director, Communications | mough@prhc.on.ca