HONOLULU, HAWAII—Outrigger Enterprises Group received the inaugural “Green Leader Award” recently from Reynolds Recycling for being top recycling and sustainability leaders in Hawaii’s tourism industry. Outrigger’s owned and operated hotels in Waikiki have prevented more than 48,000 pounds of recyclable material from entering Honolulu’s landfill by recovering more than one million beverage containers from their guestrooms since 2006.
“With over 4,000 guest rooms in Waikiki, we realized that our combined efforts could make a significant impact in keeping Hawaii green,” said David Carey, president and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises Group. “Hawaii’s beauty rests heavily on our pristine environment and as ambassadors for the tourism industry, it is our responsibility to not only maintain, but to improve our Hawaii home for future generations to enjoy.”
“Reynolds Recycling is proud to honor businesses like Outrigger Enterprises Group, which complement our mission of ‘Helping Hawaii Recycle,’” said Reynolds Recycling president Terry Telfer. “Their steadfast commitment to removing recyclable material from their guestrooms sets a high standard for others in their industry, and their charitable support for Hawaii’s nonprofit community is commendable.”
Overall Recycling Statistics
Some facts and figures regarding Outrigger Enterprises Group’s recycling efforts:
• 14,595 pounds—the amount of aluminum recycled since 2006. This has saved 109,465 kilowatts of electricity, conserved 11,530 gallons of gas, and if stacked end to end, could wrap around Kapiolani Park 18 times.
• 36,317 pounds—the amount of plastic recycled since 2006. This has saved over 69 barrels of petroleum, preserved 135 cubic yards of landfill space, and if stacked end to end, could go up and down Diamond Head over 54 times.
• Half a million—the number of containers that Outrigger Enterprises Group is projected to recycle in 2009 alone. Compared to 2008, the hotel properties will more than double the number of recyclables they remove from the waste stream in 2009.
• Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of Reynolds Recycling’s most committed participants in its Business Sponsorship Program; this means that a portion of the recycling funds raised are designated to local charities. Every bottle and can collected is a win-win for Hawaii’s natural environment and for those who provide much needed services to Hawaii’s community.
At any given time, Reynolds Recycling works with more than six dozen schools, nonprofits, and business sponsors as part of its recycling fundraising programs. Wanting to commend and highlight the actions of these sustainable establishments and individuals that choose to lead by example, Reynolds Recycling created its Annual Green Leaders Award in 2009. Outrigger Enterprises Group is the first recipient of this award.
Outrigger Enterprises Group’s sustainability initiatives do not stop at recycling, however. Multiple properties have incorporated energy saving techniques in an effort to be more eco-friendly and to preserve the island’s natural resources. The installation of low flow toilets and showerheads helps reduce the amount of water used daily. To combat high energy use, incandescent light bulbs have been replaced with compact fluorescent bulbs. A number of Outrigger and OHANA properties have installed guestroom energy management systems which allow hotels to control the thermostat and temperature in rooms when they are vacant, rented, or when they are rented and not occupied.
The OHANA Waikiki Beachcomber received an Energy Star designation from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this year. The Outrigger Waikiki and Outrigger Reef hotels work with local retailer Kini Beach to collect grass beach mats, plastic body boards, air mattresses, inner tubes and other “disposable” beach toys left behind in hotel rooms. These are then collected by Kini Beach and turned into chic eco-products like handbags and totes, and canoe/SUP paddle covers retailed in stores on Oahu, Maui and Kauai.
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