SEATTLE—The Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle, a 450-room AAA Five Diamond property, is taking a big bite out of its waste hauling costs thanks to an aggressive recycling program that includes composting and the occasional dumpster dive to analyze what exactly is being thrown away. Waste minimization is top of mind, even when making purchasing decisions. The end result at the end of each day is that a significant chunk of what used to be bound for the landfill is now being recycled.
The luxury hotel stepped up its recycling efforts about a year ago when it began working with Eirik O’Neal, an environmental consultant with Corporate Recycling Services, University Place, Wash. O’Neal helped the Green Team at the hotel identify waste-saving opportunities and assisted with initiatives such as making sure the appropriate signage is in place to encourage recycling. O’Neal also assisted with the launch of a food waste composting program.
Food waste recycling began in January of this year in the hotel’s kitchen. One garbage can was set aside for food waste. In January, 1,600 pounds of food waste was diverted from the landfill. That number increased to 5,000 pounds in February—all out of the one garbage can. The waste is collected and processed into nutrient rich compost by a local company called Cedar Grove Organics. The compost is then used in gardens and landscaping at the hotel. The total volume of food waste diverted from the landfill from February through July of this year was 17.62 tons.
To further minimize the amount of waste generated from the hotel’s food and beverage operations, biodegradable “to go” cups and containers are purchased. According to Charles Rider, director of purchasing at the hotel, he is currently studying the possibility of giving guests forks, knives and spoons made from bamboo with “to go” orders.
Local Treatment Center Benefits
Items such as mixed paper and newspapers are picked up by Seattle Drug & Narcotic Center, Inc. (Seadrunar). Seadrunar is an organization that provides drug/alcohol treatment services to Seattle area residents. It has its own recycling branch called Seadrunar Recycling. The hotel has been recycling an average of 33,000 pounds of mixed paper each month through the housekeeping department.
A blue recycling container is located in each guestroom. In the service area on each floor, housekeepers deposit the recyclables in designated containers. Unused soaps and shampoos are collected and donated to an area homeless shelter. Bins in the mail room and office areas help to further boost recycling participation.
Ensuring that employees are constantly reminded to recycle is key to the success of the Fairmont’s program. The Green Team, which includes a representative from every hotel department, meets on a monthly basis. Dumpster dives, occasions when a manager will sift through the trash to look for items that don’t belong, occur frequently.
“When our employees see us going through the garbage, it proves that we are serious,” Rider says.
Rider explained that whenever the hotel renovates and has furniture or other large items to dispose of, a company will come in and purchase the items for reuse.
Strong Commitment to Recycling
Corporate Recycling’s O’Neal says that oftentimes recycling will fall by the wayside because there is no commitment from the top of an organization. That has not been the case at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, however.
“I think they are doing a fantastic job,” O’Neal says. “Their level of commitment is exemplary. The entire executive committee is committed to eliminating waste. Housekeeping has also handled the changes very well. It was quite a change for that department to have to sort recyclables.”
In addition to upper level management support, education has also been key to the hotel’s waste-cutting efforts.
“Constantly educating and reminding people is important,” says Meg Paynor, public relations manager at the hotel.
As an extension of the Fairmont Olympic Hotel’s commitment to green up its operations, it will be holding an Earth Week in October with activities scheduled each day. An Environmental Fair, at which local vendors will have an opportunity to display and sell their green products, will wrap us the week.
Go to the Fairmont Olympic Hotel, Seattle.
Glenn Hasek can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.
