Release Number: 31/03
WAIKIKI, HONOLULU, HAWAII – Eight Outrigger Hotels and Resorts properties have proved once again that it’s easy being green by encouraging hotel guests to join the war on waste. The company’s 2013 eco-friendly efforts amounted to more than 27 tons of recyclable plastic bottles and aluminum cans from guest rooms, up from 20 tons in 2012. 27 tons! That’s enough to preserve more than 200 cubic yards of landfill space, and if stacked end to end, could go up and down Diamond Head more than 80 times!
Outrigger Hotels and Resorts launched its in-room recycling program in 2006 at its two Waikiki beachfront hotels, encouraging visitors to leave plastic bottles and aluminum cans in a designated bin or area within the guest room for recycling purposes. The program quickly gained momentum, and in 2009, Reynolds Recycling honored Outrigger Enterprises Group with its inaugural “Green Leader Award” for being the top recycling and sustainability leader in Hawaii’s tourism industry. Over the last eight years, the program has collected a total of roughly 107 tons of recyclables that otherwise would have gone into landfills.
“Having reached the milestone of collecting more than 100 tons of recyclables, we are more committed than ever to helping keep Hawaii green,” said Barry Wallace, executive vice president of hospitality services. “As ambassadors for the tourism industry, it’s our responsibility to ensure that Hawaii is a beautiful place to live, work, and play for generations to come.”
In 2013, every bottle and can collected at Outrigger Hotels and Resorts was a win-win for Hawaii’s natural environment as well as for the community. With the recyclables collected in 2013, the company was able to raise more than $27,000 for PACT, a local nonprofit that offers social services to Hawaii families in need.
Wallace added, “We’re especially proud of our guests and employees for going above and beyond to make a positive environmental impact last year, and for paying it forward to Hawaii families in need.”
Outrigger hotels and affiliated properties that participated in the 2013 recycling program included: Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, Outrigger Reef on the Beach, Outrigger Luana Waikiki, OHANA Waikiki East, OHANA Waikiki West, OHANA Waikiki Malia, Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk, and Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber.
-30-