Materials Management

 Recycling  Composting  Low Impact Development  Staff Green Teams  Environmental Messaging

Recycling: Oh the Possibilities!  Paper  Cardboard  Plastics  Aluminum  Scrap metal  Lightbulbs  Household Hazardous  Toner/Ink cartridges  Oil (kitchen or motor)  Food (composting)  Tires  Styrofoam  Cell phones  Plastic bags/film  Clothing  Crayons

Recycling: Benefits  Increase life of landfill  Reduce transportation/hauling cost  Save energy and virgin materials  Creates jobs  Reduce GHG emissions

Recycling: Why Don’t People Recycle?  They don’t know what to recycle  They don’t know where to recycle  It is not convenient for them (when am I supposed to do this?)  Its too confusing or complicated (how do I do this?)  They don’t realize the benefits (why should I bother?)  They don’t care  Recycling options simply don’t exist…yet

Recycling: What’s Your Role?  Solve the problem!  Answer their questions!  Get everyone involved!  Partnerships and collaborations will get you everywhere!  Other departments  Local groups  Schools  Press releases US EPA

Recycling: Where to Begin  Waste Audit!  Visual waste audit  Waste characterization  By weight  Contracted or done in-house

Recycling: Where to Begin  Decide on the type of program  Transfer Station  Drop off locations  Curbside Pickup  Material Recovery Facility

Recycling: Where to Begin  Find location/Facility  Building or trailers  Equipment

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Recycling: Where to Begin  Funding  Tribe  Fee based  Grant funds

Recycling: Where to Begin  Hire and Train staff  Safety First!  Using equipment  Driving

Recycling: Where to Begin  Find buyers  Monthly bids  Multi-year contracts  Pick up vs. delivery  Single stream loads vs. mixed loads

Recycling: Markets…Ask Around!  Commodity Markets  Thermostat Recycling Corporation –  Kaps 4 Kids – – metal, plastic, wine corkswww.kaps4kids.com  Crayons –  Light Bulbs – hardware stores, mail back programs, bulb eater  Lowe’s, Home Depot, Wal-Mart, grocery stores for plastic bag recycling  Cell Phones for Soldiers –  Motor Oil – Automotive parts stores  Lions Club International Clubs – eye glasses  Clothing – American Textile Recycling Service, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Goodwill,  Old rugs, blankets, towels – animal shelters  Furniture / Household Items – REUSE  Ink / Toner Cartridges – and Staples, Office Depotwww.tonerbuyer.comwww.empties4cash.com

Recycling: Where to Begin  Tracking!  You will not be successful or sustainable if you can not prove your success/numbers. Keep track of all ins and outs.

Suggested Measures of Accomplishment:  % of paper and trash reduced, composted, recycled or amount of decreased tons to landfill  % of electronics recycled, donated or reused (e.g. computers recycled)  % office supplies recycled (excluding computers and electronics) such as % of toner cartridges recycled, % of batteries recycled, etc.

Food Operations: Food Waste

Food Operations: Pre Consumer versus Post Consumer  Pre-consumer  Spoilage  Prep  Soiled paper, cardboard  Fats, oils, grease  Post-consumer  Leftovers (plates, buffet, garnishes)  Paper napkins, cups, wrappers  Stirring sticks, coffee grounds/filters, tea bags

Food Operations: Reduction Tips  Improve food preparation procedures in the kitchen  Reduce the use of garnishes  Keep an eye on inventory of perishable food  Provide a wider selection of portion sizes  Have a tray-less cafeteria (up to 30% reduction)

Food Operations

Food Operations: Composting Programs  Curbside (food/yard)  Drop-off (food/yard)  Business only  Casino only  Educational *Must complete needs assessment & waste audit to know where to start!

Food Operations: Case Study Mohegan Indian Tribe of Connecticut’s Casino Waste Analysis 37.5% Of The Mohegan casino waste stream was food waste Review your hauling contract Do you pay by weight? Do you pay by container? Does your hauler discount for green waste collection? Source: Waste Reduction Tips For Hotels and Casinos in Indian Country, US EPA 2000

Food Operations: Making the Business Case!  Reduced weight in the waste stream = less money for disposal  Reduced cost when ordering

Food Operations: Composting Types

 Piles/Windrows  In-vessel Systems  Vermicomposting (Worms!)

Food Operations: Composting Types  Piles/Windrows  In-vessel Systems  Vermicomposting (Worms!)

Food Operations: Composting Types  Piles/Windrows  In-vessel Systems  Vermicomposting (Worms!)

Food Operations: Concerns  Access to water  Complaints: Odor (even if it isn’t true!)  Permits  Ordinances  Zoning  Critters

Food Operations: Funding  Get creative!  Agricultural  Recycling/Waste  GAP  Pollution Prevention  Source Reduction  Health  USDA  Partnerships  Transfer station  Staff from other departments

Low Impact Development

 an approach to land development (or re-development) that works with nature to manage stormwater as close to its source as possible  can be applied to new development or as retrofits to existing development  can be used at a wide range of landscape scales in place of, or in addition to, more traditional stormwater control elements  Goal: stormwater and slow it down, spread it out, and soak it in.

Low Impact Development

Low Impact Development: Additional Benefits  Reduced and delayed stormwater runoff volumes  Enhanced groundwater recharge  Stormwater pollutant reductions  Reduced sewer overflow events  Additional wildlife habitat & recreational space  Increased land values  Less splash, spray, ponding, noise, and pollutants coming off permeable pavements  Can be less expensive than other infrastructure, especially long term  More aesthetically pleasing  Makes communities more resilient

Low Impact Development: Funding  Look for:  Stormwater Grant Program  Nonpoint Source Pollution (Section 319)  Urban Water Small Grants  Green Infrastructure  Brownfields  Clean Water  Low Impact Development  Water to River  Urban Runoff

Green Teams Toons4Biz

Green Teams  self-organized, grassroots groups of employees who voluntarily (usually) come together to identify and implement solutions to help their organization be more environmentally sustainable  Usually accomplished through: policy changes, larger scale transformation of production and operations, education and employee behavior changes  Often started by an active employee  Typically one representative from each department will participate (a good size group is seven to ten)

Green Teams: Making the Business Case  Cost savings by integrating energy efficiency into the workplace and products and services  Attracting and retaining the best and brightest talent who want to work for companies with an authentic green commitments  Increased market share and revenues resulting from a stronger brand and new, innovative green products and services.

Green Teams: Best Practices  Start with the visible and tangible: focus on internal operations  Get senior management involved, but don't lose the grassroots energy  Engage employees to capture ideas  Communicate and share best practices  Engage customers to be part of the solution  Use art to raise awareness  Create a toolkit to support and guide green teams  Break down borders (departments, divisions, etc.)  Involve building/facility services  Create campaign calendars (different topic each month?)  Encourage project ownership  Make it fun  Show appreciation

Green Teams: Getting Started  Find a leader (you!)  Prepare for the first meeting  Find a time/space  Invite others  Set agenda (potential projects)  First Meeting  Brainstorm  Prioritize Goals  Take Notes!  Keep the Momentum Going!

Environmental Messaging

Environmental Messaging: Delivering the Message  "Help the hotel save energy," focusing on the benefit to the hotel.  "Help save the environment," emphasizing environmental protection.  "Partner with us to help save the environment," centering on environmental cooperation.  "Help save resources for future generations," highlighting the benefit to future generations.  "Join your fellow citizens in helping to save the environment," focusing on the descriptive norm.

Environmental Messaging  More than 75% of U.S. hotels have linen and towel reuse programs  59% have guest or internal recycling programs  46% have a water-saving program  Some hotels give guests a %5 voucher for each day they decline housekeeeping  No matter the price point, no hotelier can afford to lose a guest because he or she doesn't like the way a hotel communicates its message.

Questions?