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You should also review these general guidelines and best practices for managing waste throughout the hotel.
Convert a few rooms on a floor at a time to Earth Friendly / Smart Rooms and offer these rooms during registration/check-in and ask for evaluation at check-out. It is recommended to assign the same staff to the earth friendly rooms and to implement a training schedule that reinforces the green lodging methods. The time/labor spent in room cleanup for guest staying over should decrease. Have staff audit the reduction in linen and towel usage which saves man-power, detergent, hot water, and wear and tear of washers and dryers, and linens. Always separate waste from recyclables in the housekeeping cart or at the source of generation. The following are opportunities and methods for reducing your waste stream:
- Create linen and towel program
Display attractive, professional note card in the guest room explaining what your hotel is doing for the environment and how guests can help. Leave card on the bed and in the bathroom to explain linen and towel exchange program. Inform guests how often sheets will be changed and let guests tell you if they require changes more frequently. Change bed linens every three days and only towels left on floor or in tub. Communications must be clear and simple. You can also inform guests at check-in with a note inserted with their guest room key.
- Recycle old linens and towels
Donate old linens and towels to charities or other facilities that may use them (homeless shelter, humane societies, veterinarian offices, school, car washes etc). They may also be used for many back of the house operations, such as rags for maintenance shops, housekeeping and kitchen. Recycle sheets and stained tablecloths into placemats for room service trays, napkins and kitchen aprons. For front of the house, sheets may be made into pillow cases, bedspreads into hot pads and urn covers for kitchen use. Purchase sheets with higher thread count for longer wear.
- Create a waste reduction plan for laundry and cleaning chemicals
Laundry and cleaning chemicals should be biodegradable and as least toxic as possible. When possible, use environmentally friendly cleaning agents (MSDS Health Hazard Rating of 1 or less). Choose pump sprays instead of aerosols. Use products in correct concentration and "as recommended." This saves the amount of product needed. The supplier may be able to provide the strength necessary for cleaning. Use refillable containers instead of single use.
- Minimize hazardous waste by inventory
Know what you have and need to get the job done. Just-in-time inventory methods can reduce the need to store chemicals and other products. Find vendors that are willing to ship products when you need them. Also make sure that all stored materials are date stamped when they arrive and that the older products are always used first.
- Recycle or donate other housekeeping products
Corrugated boxesBreak down corrugated boxes and store dry before taking them to recycling compactor. Separate plastic from boxes before breaking down to control contamination. Throw contaminated items in garbage. TissuesReplace tissue when dispensers are near empty. Use roll type hand towels - people use less. In guest rooms leave new tissue rolls or boxes for guest to replace.Clothing hangersDonate excess hangers to local dry cleaner or guest laundry service.Plastic containersAsk your vendor to take back empty plastic containers. If they are unable, clean them out and re-use them or give them to employees.
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