About Us

In 1891, The University of Texas Medical Branch made its home on Galveston Island as the first medical school in Texas. Today, UTMB is ranked as the largest employer in Galveston County with more than 13,000 employees, 2,500 students, six hospitals and 92 clinics serving 221 Texas counties and more than 800,000 patients annually.

As owner of such a large percentage of the communities' waste stream, UTMB established a recycling program more than a decade ago to reduce the impact. From a simple paper program, the initiative grew, adding recyclables and other conservation components such as composting and energy usage reductions to what it is today, the UTMB Resource Conservation Initiative - a plan charged with the task of protecting the Earth's finite resources so that future generations will have what is necessary to lead clean, healthy lives.

Every UTMB employee, student, patient, visitor or area resident has the opportunity to participate in some aspect of this community-wide initiative.

Awards

2004 - UTMB recognized by the Alliance Board for the First Annual Sustainability Awards May 13, 2004
2003 - UTMB recognized for commitment to commuters
2003 - Recycling Leadership Award for Outstanding Environmental Public Education and Community Outreach from the Recycling Alliance of Texas
2002 - Outstanding Integrated Solid Waste Management Program from the Recycling Alliance of Texas
2001 - Environmental Excellence Award for Outstanding University Recycling Program from the Recycling Coalition of Texas
2001 - Environmental Vision Award for Community Relations from the Texas Corporate Recycling Council
2001 - Environmental Vision Award for Community Relations from the Houston Corporate Recycling Council
2000 - Outstanding Recycling Event - UTMB Earth Day from the Recycling Coalition of Texas
1999 - Award of Excellence - Outstanding University Recycling Program from the Recycling Coalition of Texas
1994 - Environmental Excellence Award from the Houston Corporate Recycling Council

Date Posted: 02/14/2008