Hotel recycling drive to help save energy

By ANIQA HAIDER

A BAHRAIN hotel has launched a major recycling initiative to reduce waste and save energy.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel has joined forces with Recycling for Charity as part of the project, which will be implemented next month.

It will start with the installation of a recycling bank and an awareness campaign throughout the hotel’s bars and restaurants, banquet halls, kitchen, guest rooms, housekeeping and management offices.

The hotel produces around seven tonnes of waste on a weekly basis and the project aims to reduce that to less than two tonnes through recycling.

The initiative was launched yesterday at a Press conference at the hotel to coincide with World Environment Day on June 5.

The hotel has already carried out several environmentally friendly projects, including educating staff about the importance of reducing waste and

recycling more than 300 telephone directories and magazines from its rooms to save 30 trees a year.

“We are proud to set a benchmark in Bahrain’s hospitality industry by engaging in effective measures to reduce our environmental impact,” said Crowne Plaza general manager Ivor E Prestwood.

“Recycling is a key component in maintaining or improving the local environment.

“Not only does recycling make good economic sense, but it also demonstrates a sense of good ethics to the guests and the community.” The initiative

was backed by Recycling for Charity chief executive officer Boris Uhlig, who hopes other hotels will follow suit.

Crowne Plaza Bahrain becomes the first hotel to recycle

Crowne Plaza Bahrain and Recycling for Charity have launched a unique joint recycling initiative that will be implemented at the Hotel from June 2009 onwards.

The initiative, part of the hotel’s ongoing commitment and responsibility to the environment, will position Crowne Plaza as the first hotel in Bahrain to actively engage in recycling initiatives and manage energy consumption more effectively.

The effort has been launched to coincide with World Environment Day which will be celebrated on June 5, 2009.

‘We are proud to set a benchmark in Bahrain’s hospitality industry by engaging in effective measures to reduce our environmental impact. We already have an ongoing ‘Green Engage’ programme followed by many properties in InterContinental Hotels Group to help improve environmental performance, reduce costs and respond to our guests increasing awareness of this issue,’said Mr. Ivor E Prestwood, General Manager, Crowne Plaza.

Environmental sustainability is a priority for the Crowne Plaza Bahrain. Currently, the Hotel produces seven tonnes of waste that is collected on a weekly basis. The aim is to reduce below two tonnes of waste every week through recycling. The programme in collaboration with Recycling for Charity will commence with the installation of a recycling bank and an internal awareness campaign that will be executed troughout the Hotel – bars and restaurants, banquet halls, Kitchen, guest rooms, housekeeping and management offices.

Mr. Boris Uhlig, Chief Executive Officer, Recycling for Charity, said ‘We are delighted to be a part of Crowne Plaza Bahrain’s ongoing CSR campaign to make their contribution in saving the environment and demonstrate good recycling habits. We do hope with Crowne Plaza Bahrain coming on board and incorporating elements of sustainability into their day-to-day operations, other hotels will follow their lead and be inspired to make the choice as well.

Recycling for Charity has developed custom-made internationally approved recycling containers for the Crowne Plaza Bahrain to help them to effectively conserve resources by recycling. The Crowne Plaza Bahrain has in the past been involved in implementing environmentally responsible practices and procedures such as educational programmes for their staff on the importance of recycling to encourage people to give waste paper to the Housekeeping department. This included collecting and recycling around 300 telephone directories and magazines from all the rooms in the hotel to save around 30 trees per year.

The ‘Green Room programme’ has also been a part of the Hotel’s ongoing recycling drive to minimise the amount of linen loads going to the laundry for washing, ironing, drying, and folding on a daily basis, which drastically helps reduce the energy and the chemicals that are used. Guests are given a ‘green option’ that they can consider during their stay at the Hotel.

‘Recycling is a key component in maintaining or improving the local environment. Not only does recycling make good economic sense, but it also demonstrates a sense of good ethics to the guests and the community,’ concluded Mr. Ivor E Prestwood, General Manager, Crowne Plaza.