DEVENS, MASS.—Fifty employees of the Devens SpringHill Suites by Marriott donned green wristbands and “gathered for the green” in a hotel ballroom in late April to convert approximately 140 guestroom and public-space trash cans to single stream recycling bins. The Devens SpringHill Suites by Marriott is the first area hotel to adopt this recycling approach.
Single stream (also known as “fully commingled”) recycling refers to a system in which all recyclable materials are mixed together in the same collection container, eliminating the need for separate and/or specific bins.
“Making recycling more convenient will likely encourage more recycling,” said Maura Peeler, SpringHill Suites’ general manager. “We feel that it’s our responsibility to advocate sustainable practices, and hope that, just by having this system in our hotel, we might introduce our guests and visitors to this fairly new ‘one-stop’ recycling approach.”
Project Coincided with Earth Day
Peeler added that the hotel’s “trash to treasure” conversion project was planned to coincide with Earth Day 2009.
Dona Neely, executive director of the Devens Eco-Efficiency Center, said that SpringHill Suites joined the Center’s voluntary environmental stewardship program when the hotel first opened. “I am impressed with SpringHill Suites’ commitment to environmental responsibility, and am confident that the hotel’s accomplishments will inspire other businesses to collect their recyclables in a similar fashion.”
The SpringHill Suites by Marriott and Devens Common Conference Center are managed by True North Hotel Group, which encourages environmental responsibility through the company’s “Give Back” initiative.
For more information about single stream and other recycling programs in the Devens area, visit www.ecostardevens.com.
