Hospitals generate a tremendous amount of trash and end up throwing away valuable resources. Comprehensive recycling and waste minimization programs can save a health care organzation both environmental and financial resources. Facilities all across the country have discovered that recycling programs can simultaneously reduce disposal costs and raise staff morale. Waste reduction strategies go beyond recycling and should emphasize waste minimization, but recycling and reuse programs are a critical aspect of any waste management and minimization program. As community health providers, hospitals should be pioneers in these important environmental programs.