MADISON - If all the construction crews, cranes and hard hat zones are any indication, it may seem as if UW Hospital and Clinics is in a perpetual state of building and remodeling.

 

Working amid such a bustling construction environment, UW Hospital electrical trades supervisor Jeff Gertgen and transportation/labor manager Terry Frink got to thinking - how might the hospital put the truckloads of waste from these construction projects to good use?

 

The idea for a fundraiser for the new American Family Children's Hospital was born. In the "Copper for Kids" program, old copper wiring and tubing from hospital construction projects is being recycled to raise money for the new hospital - which is yet another construction project under way, next to the existing UW Hospital and Clinics.

 

"We were thinking one day about all of the recycled material coming out of the building from all of the construction projects, and we started thinking that it would be a really good thing if we could pull that copper out of the trash," says Gertgen.

 

"And it would be even better if we could put it into a special recycling project and earmark those funds for the new children's hospital," he added. "With all of the construction that goes on around here, it's basically a never-ending fundraiser. We'll always be collecting the copper and turning over checks for the children's hospital."

 

 

So far, Copper for Kids has raised more than $50,000 for the new American Family Children's Hospital.

 

Before the Copper for Kids effort, contractors involved in construction projects at the hospital typically recycled the scrap copper on their own, and some of it was simply thrown out, says Frink. But since the fundraiser began, Frink says contractors have willingly turned over old copper wiring and tubing for the cause. In fact, a $20,000 copper recycling contribution was recently made by one contractor, Staff Electric.

 

"They've seen the benefit of what we're trying to do," Frink says. "The contractors have been really helpful with working with us and trying to help. They just let us know whenever their bins are full, and we take it away to be recycled."

 

"We're not just being selfish - we want to recycle and put that money to a good use," Frink added.

 

Since the Copper for Kids project began, the hospital has added language to building contracts that gives the hospital discretion over all salvage materials.

 

UW Hospital and Clinics receives premium pricing for its scrap copper, thanks to a strong working relationship with All Metal Recycling in Madison. Prices vary, but Copper for Kids receives anywhere from 60 cents per pound for copper wiring to about $2.62 per pound of copper tubing.

 

 

As construction and demolition projects pile up, that's not exactly small change. But another recycling effort that goes to Copper for Kids is exactly that - small change. When coins are dropped into the hospital's atrium fountain, they're periodically removed by housekeeping and Plant Engineering staff, since the coins eventually will turn the fountain's rocks green.

 

Frink then uses a rock tumbler and a rock cleaning compound to clean all of the fountain change before he takes it to the bank.

 

"Since we're basically recycling this money, we thought this could be another good idea for Copper for Kids," says Frink. "It really does add up - one can of change is almost $200 in coins."

 

Frink and Gertgen have a goal to raise at least $100,000 for the new American Family Children's Hospital through Copper for Kids, and the fundraiser will keep going from there.

 

 

For Gertgen, the project means much more to him than merely making sure the hospital is maximizing its recycling efforts. His 18-year-old daughter Samantha struggled with a severe seizure disorder for 16 years, and the Gertgens are no strangers to children's hospitals.

 

"It's great to know that kids will have an opportunity to go to such a nice hospital," Gertgen says. "Knowing how they're going to build it, it's not only going to offer the best doctors, but the whole environment's going to be a healing environment for kids. It feels great to contribute to that."