PORT ORFORD, ORE.—“It feels like you are on another planet.” That is how Michelle Duarte describes the WildSpring Guest Habitat that she and her husband own along the coast of Oregon in Port Orford. Their small, eco-friendly resort sits on five acres of 100-foot trees and includes five cabins. “The cabins are built like small homes,” Duarte says. “They are not rustic.”Just about everything possible was done to minimize the environmental footprint of the five cabin suites. Duarte’s husband, Dean, who once worked on Hollywood sets in construction, played an integral part in the building of the cabins. Only...

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Interest in the EPA’s Food Recovery Challenge, part of its Sustainable Materials Management Program, is picking up with the addition of participants including hotels, resorts, convention centers, entertainment venues, and other facilities. Organizations joining the program must commit to at least a 5 percent increase in at least one of the three food diversion categories: prevention, donation or composting. Or alternatively, they can commit to a combined 5 percent increase across all three food waste diversion categories. If a participant does not have food diversion data, the EPA says it will assist the organization in developing a program...

PHUKET, THAILAND—Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa teamed up with its affiliate dive center Sub Aqua Dive Center, as a boat sponsor of Go Eco Phuket’s “Dive Against Debris” as part of the resort’s commitment to protecting, conserving, and restoring Phuket’s natural environment.“Dive Against Debris”, the world’s largest reef cleanup, was organized by Go Eco Phuket (the dive centers of Phuket united as one) with the support of PADI and Project Aware. Held this fall, the event involved 502 participants, more than 300 of which were divers, 20 local dive centers, 14 dive boats, the Royal Thai Navy, the...

AUSTIN, TEXAS—Trash and luxury travel are topics rarely uttered in the same sentence, but the two have been linked as the Four Seasons Hotel Austin undertakes one of the most ambitious waste diversion initiatives in the country—by a hotel or otherwise. On November 30, the hotel launched its new Zero Waste program, a goal two years in the planning.“The amount of passion and dedication that’s already gone into developing this initiative is inspiring,” says general manager Rob Hagelberg. “I’m so proud to be part of a team that’s truly breaking new environmental ground in the state of Texas and...

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA.—Approximately 3.3 million tons of food waste from hotels, restaurants and bars goes into landfill sites every year. Yet, 4 percent of U.S. households experience chronic hunger. This month, The Founders Inn and Spa, in partnership with Operation Blessing, will follow the Capella Hotel Group Fragments program standards, to make soup for New Life Christian Center, East Ocean View to distribute. Capella Hotel Group manages The Founders Inn and Spa.Each week kitchen staff saves all unused food from the restaurant and catered events that would normally be discarded. Generally this consists of soup, proteins, starches, and vegetables....

ALPHARETTA, GA.—Hampton Inn Batesville, located in Southeast Indiana and part of the Hampton brand, has completed a large-scale sustainability project through The Refinishing Touch’s furniture asset management solutions. The Refinishing Touch completed on-site furniture refinishing to case goods in 66 rooms at the Batesville location, restoring the original condition of wardrobes, desks, nightstands, headboards, bathroom vanities and luggage benches.The refinishing project was completed using non-toxic lacquers with low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), maintaining indoor air quality and ensuring safety. Hampton Inn Batesville saved 92.5 percent in budget costs by refinishing, when compared to buying new furniture—reducing the project’s total...

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—GreenWaste Recovery and its sister company Zanker Road Resource Management specialize in transforming society’s discards back into valuable resources to make new products. GreenWaste’s material recovery facility in San Jose, Calif., is known for its ability to separate and process recyclable materials, garbage, food waste and construction and demolition debris with high recycling rates. They are now pleased to announce the newest member of the GreenWaste family of companies, GreenWaste Carpet Recycling.Launched in 2012, GreenWaste Carpet Recycling has quickly developed ties with many local carpet vendors and established four carpet collection centers in Northern California, including three...

MCLEAN, VA.—Hilton Worldwide announced a new mattress recycling program in coordination with the installation of new Serta mattresses and box springs. Available immediately across all brands in the United States, the program will recycle approximately 85 percent of Hilton hotel mattresses and box springs into various products rather than being diverted to a landfill. “Our hotels have purchased more than 50,000 mattresses in the past two years in the U.S. alone,” said Randy Gaines, vice president, engineering operations for the Americas at Hilton Worldwide. “This program presents a great opportunity for our hotels globally, offers a cost savings to...

LAKE GENEVA, WIS.—Green Leaf Inn, the first net-zero energy hotel being built in North America, will be sharing their story at the upcoming Greenbuild International Conference and Expo on November 14 to 16, 2012 in San Francisco. The Inn will be a luxury green retreat and demonstration model; a living laboratory and catalog of new technology, products and providers. The project includes both a renovation of the existing cottage with three suites, dining areas, commercial kitchen and laundry, as well as construction of a new building with 16 additional suites, conference room, massage suites and Welcome Center.Set to open...

HIGHLAND PARK, ILL.—T2 Site Amenities will be presenting the new Verso Recycling Receptacles at booth 2119 at the 2012 InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) Leadership Conference. The event runs October 24 to 26 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.Attendance of more than 4,500 is expected covering such InterContinental Hotels brands as Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental Hotels, Hotel Indigo, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites.The upscale Verso recycling bins are designed for lobbies and other interior public spaces. Available in a number of powder coated steel finishes, the Versos complement both contemporary and traditional interiors.“Offering recycling receptacles in...