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
