While the city’s new curbside recycling program has made plenty of news this year, today’s announcement of a new partnership between the City of Savannah and St. Joesph’s/Candler represents a significant step in a new direction.

In a press release, hospital President and CEO Paul P. Hinchey said, “If a system our size can do it, anyone can, I would like to officially challenge Savannah businesses and every other large commercial waste customer to join the city’s single stream recycling effort.”

Hospital officials credit employees with originating the idea and asking management to create a recycling program. By partnering with the city, the hospital expects to reduce its solid waste costs by 25 percent. Starting such a program from scratch could have cost more than $200,000, according to estimates from St. Joseph/Candler’s.

Will Hinchey’s challenge be answered a by other local businesses? A casual observer can see corrugated cardboard and other recyclable materials piling up in or near Dumpsters at commercial operations of all kinds. What role can employees and customers play in convincing other businesses to “get with the program,” as they did at St. Joseph’s?