Greening the Lodging Industry
Lodging Industry
Welcome to the World of Waste Reduction!
The hospitality industry is very competitive, and as an owner or operator of a resort,
lodge, inn, motel, or hotel, you probably look for ways to save money while maintaining
quality services. Many owners who practice “green housekeeping” have found
they can remain competitive and save a little “green” too, by
reducing waste, energy consumption and water use
throughout their businesses.
Recycling: It’s not only good business—
it’s also the law*
Green is Inn
Local ordinances and the state Waste Reduction and
Recycling Law require all businesses and property
owners to:
• Provide separate containers for the materials banned
from landfills and incinerators (see below)
• Regularly educate the occupants and users about
the recycling program at their facility
• Arrange for the collection and delivery of the
recyclables to a recycling facility.
The law also places a high priority on reducing
waste and reusing items even before recycling.
Materials banned from disposal in Wisconsin:
Paper Containers
office paper aluminum cans
newspaper steel (tin) cans
magazines glass bottles and jars
corrugated cardboard plastic containers (#1 and #2)**
Other Materials
major appliances
waste tires
lead-acid vehicle batteries
yard wastes
used motor oil
* You can order a summary of the recycling law by calling (608) 266-6790 and asking for
publication WA-422 Solid Waste Recycling and Waste Reduction in Wisconsin.
** Current law offers a varience to plastics labled #3 - #7. Check with your Responsible
Unit to find out if this varience applies to your business.
Now that you know what to recycle, how do you
go about doing it?
STEP 1: Work with your hauler to get STEP 3: Train your employees to practice
started good habits at work
You probably already have a solid waste contract Help your staff incorporate waste reduction and
with a hauler. Does it include recycling services? recycling habits into their daily responsibilities. Teach
Get a list of what is accepted for recycling. Work your employees the importance of keeping recyclables
closely with your hauler to identify collection separate from garbage to minimize contamination of
methods, frequency of collection, container needs, the recyclables. Incorporate this training into their
and costs for collecting recyclables and trash. general employee orientation. On-going education is
Discuss potential recycling contamination problems the key to overcome contamination and insure
and solutions. Consider all items that you might employee cooperation.
need to dispose of, including appliances, furniture, Form a committee made of staff from housekeeping,
kitchen grease, florescent bulbs, etc. By recycling, administration, maintenance, and other areas to
you can reduce your overall solid waste disposal develop and maintain your program. Solicit ideas from
costs. your employees for additional ways to recycle and
reduce waste.
STEP 2: Establish your recycling
collection program
You may decide to put a container for recyclables
in each guest room, and have another can for
garbage. Label them clearly. SAVE MOTHER EARTH!
In many cases, guests can mix Bed sheets washed daily
recyclables like cans and bottles in thousands of hotels in
with each other in the recycling the U.S. use millions of
gallons of water and tons
RECYCLE container with few problems since of detergent.
rooms are serviced daily. Remind
guests that it takes no more time to Sheets are customarily cha
nged daily. If
put an item in a recycling bin than you feel that this is unnece
ssary, please
leave this card on your pillo
it takes to put it in a garbage can! w in the
morning. Your bed will be
made, but your
Put recycling containers in these areas: the lobby sheets will not be change
d that day.
or other common areas; vending areas; any food
preparation areas; housekeeping closets; the pool or
recreation area; PLEASE DECIDE FO
R YOURSELF.
conference rooms
and offices; and in
maintenance © 1994 “Green” Hotels Association®
GLASS
buildings and PLAS
TIC
grounds. There are CANS
many attractive
and functional
STEP 4: Educate your guests
containers on the Give guests a flyer that describes your recycling
market. and waste reduction programs when they check in.
Put informational table tents that describe your
R
E
recycling and waste reduction program in each guest
C
Y
DNR has several free room. Pre-printed table tents, like the one pictured,
C
L
publications that describe can be ordered for a small fee from the “Green” Hotels
E
how to set up a recycling Association (see “Resources for Lodging Operators”
collection program in for address). Or, you can make your own and have
detail. See “Resources for them printed locally. Laminated tents will last longer.
Lodging Operators” in Recycling is one step you can take to make your
this flyer for information business more “green,” but if you really want to save
about how to order them. resources and more of that other “green stuff,” practice
waste reduction. Here are some tips that have worked
in large and small resorts, lodges, motels, and hotels.
2
Waste Reduction Tips • When remodelling bathrooms or replacing broken
toilets, install standard low-flush toilets that use only
for Guest Rooms 1.5 gallons per flush.
• Install low flow water aerators in shower heads and
Reduce Solid Waste sink faucets. These inexpensive items, commonly
found in hardware stores, incorporate air into the
• Substitute refillable liquid soap dispensers for water flow. Each shower uses 25-50% less water, yet
individually-wrapped bar soaps in bathrooms. supplies the same amount of pressure in the spray.
Though the initial expense for these dispensers may Aerators also save energy since less hot water is
seem high, you will realize a quick return on your used.
investment. Refills and items purchased in bulk are
usually less expensive and generate less waste than • Encourage guests to leave sheets on the bed during
individual containers. their stay instead of having them changed every day.
This reduces the amount of laundry you have to do,
• If you continue to use bar soap, donate partially- saving water, soap, energy, time and money!
used bars to day care centers, senior centers,
shelters, churches, etc., instead of throwing them • Encourage guests to take new towels only when they
away. really need them. Remind them to leave dirty towels
• Substitute washable drinking glasses for disposable
glasses if you have dishwashing capabilities. It is
cheaper to wash and reuse them than to purchase
disposable ones and pay to have them hauled away
as garbage.
• Take hangers left in guest rooms to dry cleaners or
laundromats for reuse. Bring other reusable items
left in rooms to resale stores when appropriate.
• When remodeling, give reusable furniture, bedding, Wisconsin Case Study
carpet, fixtures, etc., to resale stores or donate items Arbor House,
to community groups like day care centers, shelters,
or churches. Get a receipt for tax deductions.
an Environmental Inn
• Instead of putting a complimentary newspaper in Arbor House is an eight-room inn in
each room, encourage guests to pick up a free copy Madison located across from the University
in the lobby if they want one. of Wisconsin Arboretum. It was built as a
model inn to demonstrate environmentally-
friendly alternatives in architecture, interior
Reduce Energy Waste design, energy and water efficiency,
landscaping, and operations.
• Replace standard light bulbs with energy efficient
The inn contains the following elements:
compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs cost more
• Timber frame, arbors, and flooring are
initially—about $15 each—but pay for themselves
made of recycled 100-year-old Douglas fir
over time since they last much longer and use
reclaimed from a demolished building
about one-quarter of the electricity of an
• Exterior walls are made of 80% recycled
incandescent. Using long-lasting bulbs also
wood and concrete
reduces labor costs since you don’t have to change
• Bathroom and floor tiles are made of
them as often.
recycled post-consumer glass
• Compact florescent bulbs are found in most • Active solar hot water heater
hardware stores. See “Resources for Lodging • Passive solar design maximizes use of
Operators” for other sources. shade trees
• Low flow water devices used throughout
the building
Reduce Water Waste • Energy-efficient lighting fixtures used
• Repair all water leaks immediately! throughout the building
• Non-toxic paints and finishes in all rooms
• Install a water-saving toilet dam in the toilet tank. • Organic cotton towels and linens and
Toilet dams, available at hardware stores, can save organic cotton/wool mattresses in the
about one-third of the water commonly used per guest rooms
flush with no change in effectiveness. • Non-toxic cleaning products
• Environmental resource center on site
3
on the floor so Less waste in the office
housekeeping staff will
replace only those • Minimize paper use by copying on both sides of
towels. Here is a your paper, or use the blank back sides as scratch
sample of a pre- paper.
printed message • Use refillable toner cartridges instead of
S AV
that can be hung disposable ones in your copier and computer
on the bathroom printers. Your local office supply store can help
E
door. To order O you locate companies that service refillable
UR T
!
copies, see Dea
r Gu PLANE cartridges.
“Resources Eve
est:
for Lodging r
and y day t • Buy recycled products whenever possible. Ask
milli on
Operators” a r eu ons s of de your suppliers or shop at discount stores for
hav sed to of gallo tergen
in this e on w n
ly b ash to s of w
t items like recycled toilet paper, fax, copier,
een w a
PLE use els tha ter notepaper and computer paper; garbage can
flyer. ASE d on
c
t
DEC e.
A to
IDE
FOR
liners, pillows, carpets and carpet pads made of
wel
on t
he
YO URS recycled plastic soda bottles; landscape edging
ELF
"I'll means rack . made of plastic food containers; picnic tables,
use
it ag
ain.
" benches, and parking stops made of plastic milk
jugs; and construction materials like recycled
ceiling tiles, insulation, and floor mats.
A to
• Remove your name from unwanted mailing lists
w
or in el on t
h
by calling the 800 phone numbers on catalogs.
"ple the tub e floor
©1 ase
exc
mea Or, send your name and your business’ name to:
994
“Gr han ns
een
”H
ge." Mail Preferences Services, Direct Mail Marketing
ote
ls A
ssoc
iati Association, PO Box 9008, Farmingdale, NY,
on®
11735.
• Choose suppliers who can provide reusable or
recyclable packaging and packaging that has
recycled content in it.
Reduce Waste in Live Lightly with the Environment
Other Areas • Use water-based paints instead of
• Use linen hand towels on a continuous roll instead oil-based paints. Water-based
of paper towels in the employee, dining and lobby paints can be cleaned up with
restrooms. water. Donate unused paint to a
community-service agency or a
• Cut up old linens and use them as cleaning rags. local paint exchange.
Or, donate slightly-worn linens and towels to
community groups or shelters for reuse. • Left-over oil-based paint is considered a
hazardous waste and must be brought to a
• Replace old appliances with newer, energy- hazardous waste collection event for proper
efficient appliances. Recycle the old one, of course! disposal. Call your DNR Hazardous Waste
• Buy products you use regularly in bulk whenever Specialist for more information.
possible. • Use cleaners without oil-based solvents.
• Use rechargeable batteries in pagers, cell phones, • If you’re using lawn chemicals, take every
etc. Recharging units and batteries are available in precaution to keep them off of paved driveways,
hardware and discount stores. Check with your sidewalks, and streets so they don’t run into
suppliers for information on how to recycle the storm drains when it rains. Follow directions
used batteries that eventually wear out. exactly and only buy as much as you need.
• Put reusable dishes, mugs, State hazardous waste regulations prohibit
and glassware at your businesses from disposing of waste lamps and light
continental breakfast table. bulbs in landfills due to the mercury content that
• Encourage employees to use exceeds hazardous waste limits. These include
reusable mugs and glasses for fluorescent, mercury vapor, metal halide, high-and
coffee breaks instead of low-pressure sodium-vapor, and some incandescent
disposable cups. lamps. Check with your DNR Hazardous Waste
Specialist for information on how to recycle these
bulbs safely.
4
Resources for Lodging Operators
Water savers, energy-efficient light bulbs, Publications
organic cotton linens and sheets, non-hazardous
cleaners, non-hazardous laundry detergents, “Recycling and Source Separation for the
composting supplies. Lodging Industry,” #P93IC004, American Hotel and
Real Goods Motel Association, 84 p. Excellent description of
555 Leslie Street ways to reduce waste and establish recycling
Ukiah, CA 95482 collections, case studies, discussions of economic
1-800-762-7325 benefits, sample waste audits.
www.realgoods.com P.O. Box 753
Waldorf, MD 20604
Pre-printed educational materials to promote 301-705-7455
recycling and waste reduction in guest rooms $10 member, $20 non-member
including table tents, door hangers, and flyers; sells
water saving devices like low flow aerators, toilet “Greening Your Property,” by My Ton, published
dams, etc. by Green Seal, 1996, 85 p. Very thorough discussion
“Green” Hotels Association of environmental considerations when operating a
PO Box 420212 motel, including solid waste, energy-efficient
Houston TX 77242 lighting, water management, indoor air quality;
713-789-8889 includes numerous work sheets to help determine
713-789-9786 FAX costs and savings.
www.greenhotels.com Educational Institute
American Hotel and Motel Association
Waste reduction/recycling/ PO Box 1240
pollution prevention assistance East Lansing MI 48826-1240
517-353-5500
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources $37.50
Contact the business sector specialists or waste The following materials can be ordered from
management staff at these DNR Regional offices: Recycling Publications, WA/3, Wisconsin
Eau Claire ................................... 715-839-3700 Department of Natural Resources, PO Box 7921,
Madison, WI, 53707, 608-266-2111.
Green Bay ................................... 920-492-5916
“Recycling and Waste Reduction in the Restaurant
Madison ...................................... 608-275-3266 Industry,” PUB-CE-282 2001, 4 p. Description of
Milwaukee ................................. 414-263-8500 waste reduction and recycling methods for
managing wastes in the food service industry.
Rhinelander ............................... 715-365-8900
“Business Waste Reduction and Recycling: A
Spooner ....................................... 715-635-2101 Guide for the Workplace,” PUB-CE-278 2001.
Wausau ....................................... 715-359-4522 Contains industry-specific tips for reducing,
reusing, and recycling materials, case studies, and
OR, refer to the “Waste Reduction and Recycling, tips on buying recycled products.
People to contact in Wisconsin” factsheet on the “Recycling and Waste Reduction at Convenience
following DNR website: www.dnr.state.wi.us/ Stores” PUB-CE-280 2001. A four page fact sheet
org/aw/wm/contacts/recycle.htm giving store managers ideas of how to reduce
disposal costs, and save natural resources.
WasteCap Wisconsin — A public-private
“Special Events: Recycling and Waste Manage-
partnership that offers site visits, seminars, and
ment” PUB-CE-281 2001. A four page factsheet
technical assistance to businesses. 414-961-1100,
design for special events and festival planners.
[email protected], www.wastecapwi.org
Buy Recycled Business Alliance — A broad-based
group of businesses and organizations committed
to promoting the purchasing of recycled-content
products. 414-453-1077, brba.nrc-recycle.org or
www.buyrecycled.org/
AROW — A nonprofit association of government
representatives, recycling services, businesses, and
individuals. 608-745-0900, [email protected].
NOTE: DNR does not endorse or promote any specific
product or business. This is a partial list of services available
for making your business environmentally-friendly.
5
Water Conservation
Fun Facts The Phoenician Resort in Arizona installed
toilet dams in 605 guest rooms. They made their
own low-cost dams by reusing plastic tubs and
other used food containers. Their favorite toilet
Recycling dam is a one half-gallon milk jug filled with
water and placed in the toilet tank.
Recycling saves Chicago’s 2,033-room Hyatt Water usage has been reduced by 500,000
Regency Hotel over $100,000 a year through gallons of water per year since the dams were
reduced garbage fees. Their monthly garbage installed.
bill went from $12,000 to $2,000 in one year One leaky toilet can waste 50 gallons of water
(1991). per day, which wastes 18,000 gallons per year.
Each employee separates aluminum, glass, To determine if your toilet leaks, put a few
plastics, papers, and cardboard from garbage drops of food coloring in the tank. Wait 20
when cleaning rooms or working with minutes. If the food coloring escapes into the
recyclables in the kitchen, lobby, and other areas. toilet bowl, you have a leak.
The hotel makes $20,000 a year selling their Fun Facts are from 50 Simple Things Your
recyclables. Business Can Do to Save the Earth, by the
EarthWorks Group, EarthWorks Press, Berkeley,
CA, 1991.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in
its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action
Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office,
Department of Interior, Washington, D.C. 20240. PUB CE-279 2001
WISCONSIN
This publication is available in alternative format (large print, Braille, audio DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES
tape etc.) upon request. Please call 608/266-6790 for more information.
