PATTERSON, N.Y.—Golden Group International, Ltd. (GGI) recently introduced Sani SAC to the hospitality industry. It is a sanitary, sealable, degradable plastic bag, and is the company’s environmentally friendly solution for the disposal of tampons/napkins, diapers and other similar items in public restrooms. GGI has created a 50-bag box, a 125-bag roll and a 5-bag handi-pack that can be used as a courtesy item in a hotel room.
Jackie Transue, president of GGI, said she had the idea for founding GGI in 2007 while traveling on business as the president of her own mortgage company. She said practically every restroom in several states had a sign in the women’s room requesting disposal of sanitary items in wastebaskets instead of toilets.
“The light bulb went off and I thought that there must be a better solution than wasting so much toilet paper for wrapping tampons or napkins,” Transue said. “Also, sometimes women are embarrassed to place items in a wastebasket—that’s why they are tempted to flush them.”
Plumbing Repair Costs Reduced
Currently in use by many institutional and governmental janitorial services, Sani SAC reduces plumbing repair costs in these facilities caused by clogged pipes, according to Kevin Hanna, co-founder and vice president of GGI. Plumbing costs range from $70 to $135 per hour in the United States, and could run higher in an emergency situation on a weekend or holiday.
“The reduction of plumbing expenses to relieve clogged toilets and pipes, the reduction of paper waste and the priceless value of not losing the use of the restroom in a busy restaurant or a rentable hotel room—not to mention the damage to rooms below due to backed-up toilets—make this a cost-effective product for the hospitality industry,” Hanna said.
The products have the added benefit of protecting janitorial staff from exposure to disposed items that potentially could carry dangerous viruses or bacteria. These items include sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, adhesive bandages, wipes and diapers.
While some bathrooms contain disposal areas for sanitary napkins/tampons, typically they are lined by a waxed paper bag, which does not address the waste of wrapping the items in toilet paper, and which are less environmentally responsible than the Sani SAC.
Stronger & More Sanitary
Not only are the degradable sanitary bags superior to paper in terms of green aspects, the Sani SAC is also a better form of disposal because it is stronger, more sanitary and more private.
“It is double-layered, so it is opaque and is very sturdy,” Transue said. “A waxed bag can tear easily and does not seal. If you need to carry the Sani SAC bag in your purse or luggage, it is very compact, as it is available in a convenient 5-bag pack. If you need to use the Sani SAC bag and don’t find there is a place to dispose of it, you can put it in your purse to throw away later.”
Several major players in the hospitality industry are reviewing Sani SAC and soon are expected to add it to the list of green products that they carry.
“Hotels and restaurants show concern and consideration for their customers when they provide for proper disposal,” Hanna said. “This creates good will and overall customer satisfaction. The environmental benefit, too, will help save in cleanup costs and in the damage to our waterways and to marine life. By keeping costs down with products such as Sani SAC, hotels can pass along the savings in the form of lower rates to their customers.”
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