You should also review these general guidelines and best practices for managing waste throughout the hotel.

Significant amount of waste is collected from a guest room per day. Paper products (45%), food related waste (40%) including glass and plastic bottles, and bathroom waste (5%) are the items most colleted.5 Do a waste audit by picking three random rooms and collect garbage daily for seven days to determine the quantity of waste generated. It is best if recyclables are collected and sorted by room attendant as the room is cleaned. Collect the waste from rooms by using bags on the side of housekeeping carts and always consider storage.

Potential items to recycle:

1. Newspaper / Magazines
2. Aluminum cans (soft drinks, beer)
3. Plastic bottles / Containers (soft drinks, water, soap, shampoo)
4. Glass bottles (soft drinks, juice, beer, liquor)
5. Clothing / Shoes
6. White office paper (business travelers)

The following are opportunities and methods for reducing your waste stream:

1. Create newspaper recycling plan
   Return unread newspapers to newspaper vendor. Newspapers may be donated to pet stores, animal shelters, detail shops for window cleaning, fish markets, packing material for store items, mail and moving companies. Ask at check-in if guests require a complimentary newspaper in their rooms. Put complimentary newspapers in a central location (near elevator, breakfast area, front counter). You may find that you can decrease the number of copies needed.If the volume of newspapers is high then, contact the local paper recycling services to place a container. They normally do not charge for the container as well as for regular pick-ups.
2. Donate or reuse discarded or leftover materials
   Donate discarded clothing or leftover bottles of shampoo, lotions, bar soap and little left on the roll toilet paper to charities such as, homeless and abuse shelters, and churches. Eliminate under used amenities and offer by request shower caps, shoeshine cloths, sewing kits, lotion, and mouthwash. Reuse items if the seal is not broken. Mattresses may also be donated.
3. Designate a recycling can or receptacle in guest room for recyclable items or a specific area in the room for placing recyclables
   This can save time since housekeeping staff will not have to sift through waste cans and is also safer.
4. Place recycling bins in vending areas
   
   Make bins visible for guests to recycle newspaper, cans, bottles, etc. Always include a garbage can nearby.
5. Use refillable dispensers instead of small bottles and use brand name soap and shampoos
   There are several upscale attractive tamper proof models available.
6. Use glasses and mugs instead of disposables
   Considerably reduces amount of waste generated.
7. List TV stations on a sticker on rear of remote control or laminate copy for continuous use
   This guide can then be used over and over again.
8. Recycle phone books seasonally
   Many local schools participate in phone book recycling programs.
9. Donate bibles to religious organizations or prisons
   Slightly damaged copies will still be appreciated by these groups.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection
FDEP Web Site · 2600 Blair Stone Road · Tallahassee · Florida · 32399-2400
Florida Green Lodging Program · Program Contact Information
References · Acknowledgements · Disclaimer