How hard would it be for hotels to add blue waste baskets for recycling? And then to actually recycle the things that are thrown in?
When I stay at hotels in Canada, almost every room has a recycling bin. But almost none of the hotels I use in the States offer recycling. I don’t get it.
I’d be much more impressed with the “help us save the environment by reusing your sheets and towels” hangers if they were accompanied by a blue recycling bin.
What do I throw out in my hotel room? Newspapers and magazines; bottles and cans, and white paper, mostly.
All are readily recyclable.
I’d bet most people throw out the same. There may be a little plastic or food waste, but it can easily be separated into the real waste basket. Recycling would provide a small revenue stream, one that should certainly offset the costs of a recycling program.
So?
I’m going to print out this blog post, and next time I stay in one of the hotels that uses that “help us save the environment” pitch, but doesn’t offer recycling, I’m going to hand it to the general manager and ask him or her what the deal is.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I am pretty sure that the blue bins in Canadian hotels are mandated by law. The Canadians aren’t afraid of passing laws that benefit the community as a whole, even if they cause some short term inconvenience to some corporation.
I cannot see anyone having a problem with this concept. They recycle their own office materials, don’t they? Just add room debris to that.
In some cases, the local community doesn’t have recycling facilities for the hotel to feed into, but yes, anywhere the option exists, hotels really should.
I’ve been seeing a hybrid approach recently, larger bins in the lobby. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start, and it addresses the issue of housekeepers not getting or having equipment to do room by room.
I too think hotels should make it easy for guests to recycle. In the meantime, it’s not impossible to do it anyway. I keep my recyclables in a separate bag (away from the garbage bin otherwise the housemaid takes it) and hand it to reception and ask them to do it for me. I’ve also taken recyclables in my rental car to a local supermarket and used the recycling bins there.
Amen! I find myself carrying empty water bottles and newspapers around looking for a recycle bin. Hotels need to make it easier for us and provide bins. I wonder how much money they have saved on laundering sheets and towels less. Perhaps it’s time for them to spend some of it making their hotels more environmentally responsible. Putting thermostats in rooms would be a good start. How many times have you gotten up during the night because the room temp cannot be properly set.