CLEVELAND, OHIO—Hasek Communications, the Cleveland, Ohio-based publisher of Green Lodging News, welcomes Simmons Bedding Co. as a sponsor. Simmons is the maker of the EverNU™ Top. The EverNU™ removable top, available on select Beautyrest® and Beautyrest Black™ mattresses, allows hotels to maintain the original comfort of a bed for the life of the mattress by replacing the top upholstery layers. This design guarantees guests the comfort and cleanliness of a fresh mattress, and also makes economic and environmental sense—by keeping mattresses out of landfills. The EverNU™ top can be replaced at a fraction of the cost of a new...

KENNESAW, GA.—The Mohawk Group announced that the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) National Furniture Center (NFC) honored the global flooring manufacturer for the second time in four years with the coveted 2007 Evergreen Award during a recent reception in Washington, D.C. The environmental accolade affirms The Mohawk Group’s ongoing dedication to reducing waste by improving energy and resource efficiencies through innovative products, processes and services. “Receiving the GSA Evergreen Award is a shining achievement in The Mohawk Group’s history,” said Al Kabus, president of The Mohawk Group. “Environmental responsibility is a cornerstone of our corporate character, and this honor only...

WINCHESTER, VA.—Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP), a leader in durable facility maintenance solutions, introduces its new Deluxe Paneled Carts—making waste and linen management smart and stylish. With faux mahogany finished doors and panels, the Rubbermaid Deluxe Paneled Carts feature ergonomic handles which help reduce worker strain, making it comfortable to use and easy to maneuver. Flexibility is built-in with RCP’s high quality nylon bags or optional Triple Waste Bag Holders that allow segregation of waste and recycling. And because it’s Rubbermaid, the carts’ all plastic and aluminum construction make it easy to clean as well as chemical- and salt-water resistant. ...

ATLANTA—Georgia-Pacific Food Services Solutions announces the latest addition to its product line of Dixie Insulair insulated paper cups—the new Interlude design. The new look of Interlude combines vibrant musical accents and warm red and gold hues to complement the performance of triple-wall layering that keeps beverages hot. “The new Interlude design is created to provide operators with a product that matches the experience demanded by today’s consumers,” said Chuck Knudsen, senior Hot Cup category marketing manager, Georgia-Pacific Food Services Solutions. “Our goal is to continually provide operators with single-use products that perform at a very high level in functionality and...

SEATTLE—After eating an evening meal of fish and chips, tourists in Juneau who retire for the night at the Westmark Baranof Hotel may find themselves warming their toes in a room partially heated by the oil used to cook their food. The Baranof collects the town’s used vegetable oil to help heat the hotel. Environmental benefits from using vegetable oil include releasing fewer pollutants into the air, recycling of carbon already in the system and a reduction in carbon output. In addition, businesses in Juneau have found a reliable way to dispose of unwanted cooking oil without running afoul...

NATIONAL REPORT—Discarded mattresses can take up a significant amount of landfill space, do not degrade well, and can create a dangerous “soft spot” in a landfill, according to Terry McDonald, executive director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Lane County (SVDP), located in Eugene, Oregon. That’s why SVDP created its DR3 mattress recycling program. DR3 stands for “divert, reduce, reuse, recycle.” The program’s centerpiece is a 26,000-square-foot mattress recycling facility in Oakland, Calif., that serves Alameda and San Francisco counties and seven surrounding counties. If SVDP is in Oregon, why did it set up a recycling program in...

You have probably seen the cartoons where there is a devil on one person’s shoulder and an angel on the other, with each tiny character trying to convince the person to do what it believes is right. Well, that scenario has been playing out with me this holiday season as I walk the aisles of my favorite electronics stores. The little devil on one side has been pushing me to buy a flat screen TV; the little angel (eco-angel, I guess) has been telling me to wait. Guys, I am sure you can relate to this. Ladies, maybe some...

ROCHESTER, N.Y.—There’s an “invasion” of little pink bags occurring in female restrooms across the United States as inventor-entrepreneur Ann Germanow launches SCENSIBLES, a specially designed single-use scented bag for the hygienic disposal of feminine care products. “The inspiration for SCENSIBLES came several years ago when I noticed signs in public restrooms that read: Do not flush tampons,” explained Germanow, co-founder and president of The Scensible Source Company, LLC. “The only option was discarding items in filthy, germ-contaminated stall waste bins which were unacceptable to me.” SCENSIBLES bags are designed with a contemporary pink on pink floral pattern, with a delicate scent...

ATLANTA—Ever wonder how energy- and environmentally conscious the hotel guests next door are? According to a recent survey, they are likely reusing their towels, turning off the lights when they leave and recycling, if given the chance. The nationwide survey of 701 people was conducted by A Closer Look, Inc., an Atlanta-based market research company focused on the hospitality industry. “Seventy-five percent of survey respondents said it is important to them that the hotel where they stay follows green practices, and those surveyed are more than willing to do their part,” says David McAleese, CEO of A Closer Look....

CLEVELAND, OHIO—Green Lodging News has added its fourth case study to its new Vendor Case Studies section. The case study focuses on the Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority (LVCVA) and how it has effectively tackled the challenge of safely disposing thousands of fluorescent lamps. The study details how the Las Vegas Convention Center uses Air Cycle Corp.’s Bulb Eater to safely crush and store the lamps. That is important because fluorescent lamps contain potentially harmful mercury. LVCVA now has two Bulb Eater machines at the Convention Center. This OSHA- and EPA-compliant device crushes more than 1,000 fluorescent lamps (amount...