ADELPHI, MD.—The UMUC Inn and Conference Center by Marriott (a Marriott managed property) was the first conference center and hotel in North America to be granted Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in October of 2005. In 2008, to further demonstrate its commitment to the environment, the hotel has relaunched its recycling program and added a composting initiative to its food and beverage practices.
“You cannot pick up a newspaper, magazine, or turn on the TV without seeing a company’s commitment to safer environmental practice,” said Mike McCarthy, general manager. “We have got to do the right thing in the meeting industry and we are proud to be doing our part.”
McCarthy believes green hotel operations will be commonplace in a few years and wishes to be in the forefront of the movement. McCarthy engaged his staff in the hotel’s green initiatives by hosting an all-associate rally to introduce green practices and begin training for this culture-changing process. Additional training has occurred since; focusing on understanding the differences between trash, co-mingled recyclables and compostable food waste.
Back-of-House Area Focus
New containers and innovative signage were posted throughout the public areas, but the main communication efforts have been focused on the back-of-the-house area where associates are learning to separate hotel material into trash, food waste, or co-mingled recycling (paper, cardboard, glass, metal and plastic).
The Conference Center has also just finalized a contract with ENVIRELATION, LLC, an emerging leader in organics composting. On an average day, the hotel sends out 1,000 pounds of organic matter to be composted off-site.
“University of Maryland’s Inn and Conference Center’s LEED certification is a truly significant achievement in that it was the first hotel and hotel/conference center to become LEED certified,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. “This expansion of their recycling program further concretes their leader status.”
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