The three R’s on the war against waste - Reduce, Recycle and Reuse

Here are some ideas on how to Reduce waste, start Recycling and Reuse resources to become a more sustainable tourism business.

What is Sustainable Hospitality?

These are steps that's establishments can take to reduce waste, saving energy and change their water usage. Small changes can make a big difference and does not have to cost an arm or a leg. Waste reduction in hotels and guest houses are a good way to save some money. Going green is an excellent way to win the goodwill of your guest as well as lower cost and do less damage to the environment. Here are some ideas on how to Reduce waste, start Recycling and Reuse resources. The three R's help cut down the amount of waste we throw away daily.

Reduce

Remember to start off with small changes. Start with one department or section at a time. Here are a few ways on how to save money and contribute to the environment.

• Avoid disposal goods such as paper plates, paper cups, plastic straws, plastic bags, and paper napkins.
• Replace single serve toiletries such as shampoo bottles and body lotions with refillable dispensers and use natural and organic liquids. 
• Buy in bulk to reduce the amount of packaging used for smaller produce. Check if the packaging is biodegradable. 
• Purchase environmentally friendly products and support local business which will benefit the community. 
• Use a cover over your swimming pool to reduce the amount of water when needing to fill up.
• Plant drought resistant native plants instead of just grass which will reduce the cost of your water bill as well.
• Plant a garden and produce your own organically grown vegetables and herbs.

 Recycle

Recycling is a series of steps and processes that converts waste materials into new materials and objects. A good way to support and encourage this process is to educate and involve your staff and guest by strategically placing recycling bins around the establishment.

• Restaurants and kitchens contribute to up to 35% of the waste of an establishment. By investing in a composter, you can reduce your kitchen waste and produce your own fertilizer and support sustainable gardening practices. 
• Check your labels when buying goods such as paper. Buy recycled paper and print only when necessary and choose double-sided printing.
• Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, cardboard, metal, plastic, rubber, batteries and electronics and can generate a small income for your establishment.
• Materials that are recycled can either be delivered to a recycling center or picked up by companies. This will also reduce the amount of trash going to landfill sites.

 Reuse

It takes just a little creativity and imagination to reuse some discarded products and it does make environmental and economic sense to do so. Up-cycling is a very creative way to reuse discarded objects. Reuse is the breaking down of used items to create either new products or to make raw materials.

• Do not throw away old plates or chairs as they can be reused in the garden. Another example would be to reuse glass bottles as garden lanterns.
• Encourage your guest to reuse the towels and create extra towel racks in the bathrooms.
• Invest in good quality stoneware bowls or porridge dispensers for the breakfast room.
• Invest in a water filtration system and use glass bottles to refill for guest use.

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