Did you know that for every $1 spent on reducing food waste, hotels can save between $5 and $10, according to the World Resources Institute? The same WRI study also found that on average, hotels achieve a 21% reduction of food waste by weight in just one year when they prioritize waste diversion! While this is an initiative many hotels have adopted - including the Denver Marriott, applying this implementation framework to events within hotels is an opportunity and strategy many more are looking at as their next step.
All participating staff will work on the best approach for integrating food waste reduction as an event sales tool, making it a selling point in client discussions.
- Denver Marriott Tech Center
Here in Eagle County, taking advantage of what the hotel and accommodation industry has identified as an opportunity to reduce 40% of the tourism industry’s GHG emissions, which are within the direct control of hotels, is in our best interest. Hotel participation in waste diversion efforts would help our county reach our Climate Action Plan goal to divert 30% of our waste from the landfill by 2030, contribute to our local economy - by donating food to our community food bank, The Community Market, and utilizing composting services offered by Vail Honeywagon - as well as attract 70% of global travelers who are more likely to book an accommodation if it were eco-friendly.
Need more convincing? Watch this video to get you inspired to take action for reducing food waste at your hotel, by visiting the following link www.bit.ly/HotelFoodWasteVideo
Tips for Hotels to Divert Waste
- Donate Surplus Food. Hotels, as well as the restaurants and businesses that may be located within them are able to donate surplus food, as specified under the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Act. Check out a helpful infographic about how it works at www.bit.ly/FoodDonationLaw
- Compost Food Waste. We are one of the luckiest counties in the state here in Eagle County, because we have our very own compost facility located just down the road in Wolcott. For this reason, we should all support Vail Honeywagon in managing this facility, as this is one of the easiest options to divert our waste from the landfill. Learn more at www.vailhoneywagon.com/service/compost-collection/
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- If switching your waste utility to Honeywagon is not an option for you or your business, many other waste utilities offer compost options for Eagle County businesses, including Waste Management, EverGreen Zero Waste, and Alpine Waste. More questions? Reach out to Kate Manzer, Sustainability Programs Coordinator for Actively Green, at katem@walkingmountains.org
- Actively Green Webinar. While our Actively Green Waste Diversion Workshop for Hotel Events, Conferences & Weddings has been postponed due to COVID-19, the Actively Green Team is in the process of preparing a recorded webinar. This webinar is expected to be available by May 15th. You can access this webinar and more information on our Actively Green Trainings page at walkingmountains.org/agtrainings
- Another opportunity: Take the Hotel Kitchen Quiz to find out how to improve your food waste at bit.ly/HotelQuiz
IF YOU LISTEN…
What: Actively Green Waste Diversion Webinar for Hotel Events
When: This webinar is expected to be available by May 15th at the latest.
Where: You can access this webinar on our Actively Green Trainings page, here.
Cost: FREE
More information: Visit walkingmountains.org/agtrainings
