Solid Waste Controls: Housekeeping
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Hotel guest rooms can generate large quantities of solid waste. This may take the form of newspaper, magazines, beverage cans, bottles from guests and room cleaning wastes. Beside the guests, the hotel housekeeping department itself is also responsible for waste accumulation or reduction from guest rooms.There are many environmental solutions for hotel guest rooms and housekeeping. These may include source reduction, conservation, recycling and reuse.
For example, the waste amount would be reduced if a bathroom shampoo, soap and lotion dispenser can be installed. An in-house television channel can be used to spread information on hotel and guest service instead of paper.
For example, the waste amount would be reduced if a bathroom shampoo, soap and lotion dispenser can be installed. An in-house television channel can be used to spread information on hotel and guest service instead of paper.
Each housekeeping section should have proper recycling and waste disposal procedures to protect environment, and reduce operating expenses. For example, the housekeeping departments should purchase products using the minimum packaging, purchase recycled room supplies, and properly dispose of wastes from both guests and housekeepers.
The recycling program itself may include separating recyclable waste from the non-recyclable, reusing some waste and recycled materials, and promoting recycling programs within the housekeeping department.. These actions can save resources, reduce pollution, and protect the environment and employee health, while reducing operating costs, improving the hotel's image among customers, increasing employees' loyalty, and increasing profit margins.
Solid waste controls tactics for use in housekeeping include:
- Set up a solid waste reduction program
- Avoid plastic bags, using cloth bags for laundry
- Reuse worn towels, sheets for laundry bags or other purposes
- Purchase a dispensing system to replace amenities such as small portion plastic shampoo, soap and lotion containers
- Donate guest hangers which are no longer suitable for use to local dry cleaners
- Trade in used soaps to manufacturer and decrease purchasing costs
- Donate used soaps, linens, towels, blankets to local charitable organizations
- Sort and recycle glass, aluminum, paper and plastic wastes from guest rooms
- Collect used flowers in guest rooms and take to compost heap
- Collect all returnable empty minibar cans and bottles
- Collect all newspaper and magazines from guest rooms for recycling
- Use paper, envelopes and complimentary stationery made from recycled paper and materials
- Involve the housekeeping's employees in all stages of recycling program
- Contact local recycling coordinators
- Revise purchasing procedures, such as ordering exact amount
- Give guests information on the waste reduction program in your hotel
Labels: Know, Waste Management
Purchasing Management: Housekeeping
Monday, June 4, 2007
A well-designed and implemented purchasing practice in hotel housekeeping departments reduces the operational costs and volume of wastes. It is both economically and environmentally sound. Besides the basic room-cleaning crew, a housekeeping department usually also includes linen room and laundry service which have an enormous effect of purchasing activities.
The purchasing manager has a tremendous amount of responsibility not only for purchasing the room-cleaning supplies and laundry items, but also for controlling costs and minimizing the negative impacts being done to the environment. Good purchasing practice will have a long-term benefit for your housekeeping section and entire hotel.
Eco-Purchasing is a procurement strategy that reduces and controls the volume and toxicity of wastes, reduces costs and promotes recycling as well. An Eco-Purchasing program can successfully assist hotel purchasing managers reduce and control the volume and toxicity of wastes generated in housekeeping and reduce the total costs in hotels.
Eco-purchasing management tactics in housekeeping include:
* Purchase:
o Non-toxic inks for reducing hazardous waste and protecting employees
o Cleaning products with less hazardous constituents
o Sheets with a high thread count for longer wear
o Refillable bath soap, shampoo, hair rinse and hand lotion dispensers for guest rooms to eliminate soap pieces and plastic bottles
o Toilet and facial tissues and paper towels made from recycled paper fiber
o Recycled and recyclable housekeeping products
o Less-packaged housekeeping supplies
o Cleaning and laundry products in concentrated form, diluting and pouring into reusable containers for individual use
o Vacuum cleaners with reusable bags
o Housekeeping products made from recycled materials
o Energy-efficient room-cleaning and laundry equipment, such as washers, dryers, and vacuum cleaners
o Good quality and repairable housekeeping products
o In bulk only what and when the housekeeping department really needs
o Locally made products
* Minimize purchasing products containing environmentally harmful materials
* Be aware of the recycling symbol on any housekeeping supplies
* Avoid unnecessary purchasing
* Inform your suppliers about your Eco-Purchasing program
* Use venders or suppliers who take back reusable chemical containers and other waste packaging
* Keep all purchasing records in file
* Communicate and recommend the importance of the effective purchasing program, such as Eco-Purchasing to other hotel managers, employees or other hotels
Labels: Know, Purchasing
WOOD CARE
Friday, June 1, 2007
Hardwood - Beech, Oak, Walnut - strong and durable. The type of hardwood flooring most widely available is mosaic block flooring in panels. These panels are flexible and the easiest type to lay. Low risk of allergy because it is an easy to clean, natural product.
Softwood - Cedar, Deal, Pine
Wooden flooring is usually waxed or sealed, which stops dirt penetrating the surface and improves the surface appearance. It is therefore easy to maintain.
Sweep and clean with solvent-based wax. If the floor is darker than you would like, apply bleach to lighten them, always testing an obscure area first. You could also use a coloured polyurethane varnish.
Even better use a wood stain, which colours the timber and complete by sealing with a clear polyurethane varnish. Some flooring is factory treated with lacquer, and requires only vacuuming and wiping over with a damp-dry cloth.
A rug is advisable where there is heavy usage to avoid scuffing.
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Labels: Know
