Enhancing environmental and financial performance through waste minimisation

1. Enhancing environmental and financial performance through waste minimisation Nicosia, 14-15 of May 2009 Patricio Gonzalez Morel

2. Hotel waste

3. Hotel waste

4. Waste management in hotels Hierarchy of solid waste management strategies

5. Waste management in hotelsA few thoughts Hotels generally pay twice for the waste they discard Once when they purchase the items Once when they throw them away The best option from an environmental and financial standpoint is to avoid/minimise waste wherever possible

6. Waste management in hotelsA few thoughts In most cases, waste minimisation measures are simple inexpensive highly cost effective Waste minimisation and recycling can reduce waste generation in hotels by more than 50% Waste minimisation in hotels is all about details

7. Housekeeping & rooms Plastic bags Minimise the amount of plastic bags used to return guest laundry

8. Housekeeping & rooms Plastic bags Avoid using plastic bags to transport and collect guestroom linens

9. Housekeeping & rooms Plastic bags Where possible, use guestroom rubbish bins that don’t need disposable plastic liners

10. Housekeeping & rooms Plastic bags If plastic liners are used in rubbish bins Make sure the bags are of appropriate size and thickness Change them only when soiled

11. Housekeeping & rooms Consider alternative options to wrapping in plastic the cups and glasses provided in guestrooms

12. Housekeeping & rooms Plastic bags – Case study Housekeeping department of a 320-room hotel Use of large plastic bags = 480.000 /year ~ 4 bags/room/year Resulting expenditure = € 22.000 /year Possible reduction >50%

13. Housekeeping & rooms Adopt guest communication strategies that produce less waste

14. Housekeeping & rooms Use a minimum-waste format for fruit baskets

15. Housekeeping & rooms Avoid needless waste wherever possible

16. Housekeeping & rooms Avoid excessively packaged amenities

17. Housekeeping & rooms Use refillable dispensers rather than individually packaged amenities

18. Housekeeping & rooms Case study – Shampoo cost in Caribbean hotel

19. Housekeeping & rooms Cleaning products Avoid using cleaners in ready-to-use format Buying little active ingredient ... and lots of expensive packaging

20. Housekeeping & rooms Cleaning products Purchase concentrated product in bulk Dilute properly and transfer to refillable dispensers Required dilution rates are typically very high (typically 1:50 to 1:200)

21. Housekeeping & rooms Cleaning products Always follow manufacturer’s recommendations Don’t expect housekeepers to respect dilution ratios

22. F&B Avoid food items in single-portion packaging Issues High waste to product ratio High costs Others ...

23. F&B Avoid food items in single-portion packaging

24. F&B Buy beverages packaged in refillable containers

25. F&B Bottled water – Case study 500-room, all-inclusive hotel Hotel bottled water consumption = 210.000 L/year Expenditure for 1,5L disp. bottles = € 27.500 /year Switching to 19L returnable jugs would: Reduce bottled water costs by €15.000 per year Prevent discarding 140.000 plastic bottles per year

26. F&B Avoid wasteful F&B presentations

27. F&B Encourage suppliers to provide their goods in returnable crates, containers, pallets

28. F&B Avoid disposable items

29. F&B Avoid disposable items – Why? Litter Rubbish High cost Plastic cup = € 0.03 Washing cost = € 0.01 Alternative? Durables (for guests and staff)

30. F&B Disposable cups – Case study 200-room, all-inclusive European hotel Use of disposable cups = 800.000 cups/year = ~4 /guest.day Cost of disposable cups = € 24.000 /year Savings achieved with durable cups = € 16.000 /year Enough to purchase ~10.000 polycarbonate cups/year

31. F&B When using disposable items, use them wisely

32. F&B Use heating fuel cartridges sparingly

33. F&B Heating fuel cartridges – Case study 480-room, all-inclusive hotel on the Red Sea Cartridge consumption = 180.000 units/year = € 14.800 /year Savings with electric chafers = € 13.900 /year

34. Batteries Issues Hazardous waste Proper disposal Cost Problems and guest complaints

35. Batteries Where possible, use hard-wired rather than remote controls for air-conditioning units

36. Batteries Avoid providing more remote controlled devices than absolutely needed

37. Batteries Use rechargeable rather than disposable batteries wherever possible

38. Offices and back-of-house Avoid needless waste

39. Gardens Create gardens that produce less waste ... and less water ... and less fertiliser ... and less energy ... and less labour

40. Gardens Compost all possible yard waste Produce mulch from branches and other items that can’t be readily composted

41. Gardens Don’t use plastic bags to collect yard waste

42. Gardens Where possible, use rubbish bins that don’t need plastic liners

43. Thank youPatricio Gonzalez Morel pgonzalez@resourcesconservation.org