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You should also review these general guidelines and best practices for managing waste throughout the hotel.
Depending on the size of your meeting rooms, this is one area that could provide a highly visible way for hotels to recycle. Participants usually generate paper products in the form of meeting/exhibitor handouts and newspapers. Refreshment breaks generate a considerable amount of plastic bottles, glass bottles and aluminum cans. The following are opportunities and methods for reducing your waste stream:
- Switch to glass cups, saucers and cloth napkins
Reducing waste at the source is preferable to recycling.
- Provide recycling bins that are attractive and clearly marked for the front of the house and place bins in well traveled areas and always include one for garbage
Monitor collection bins and empty often or at least daily. Use pictogram labels showing what items to place in which bin. Consider various languages if you have many foreign guests. Some programs even have a different color bin for each type of recyclable. Be consistent between the front and the back of the house.
- Recycle materials used in convention/meeting rooms
Consider recycling newspaper, aluminum cans, plastic bottles, glass bottles, and office paper. Recycle leftover pallets or charge exhibitors extra for disposal. Breakdown and recycle corrugated boxes. Use a garbage compactor or baler to reduce volume. Contact a recycling company to pickup collected office paper and corrugated boxes. Store collected items in a covered dry place and free from moisture.
- Publicize recycling efforts
Publicize your collection efforts in the convention area with reader boards, in-house menu television and inside meeting planner kits. Include recycling information in vendor packet so venders know their recycling responsibilities.
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