3R's in the Work Place3R's in the Work PlaceWindsor, Ontario
Contact: Linda Baron (519) 256-2544
Knowing that it is better to reuse than recycle, Linda Baron Photography reuses every conceivable type of packaging.
Plastic bags are reused for customer purchases and wrapping. Bubble wrap is reused by cutting it up to make print corner protectors and package stuffing. Customers receive framed portraits wrapped in a new garbage bag and are reminded that they can reuse the garbage bag at home.
Paper bags are reused for customer purchases or cut up to make order forms. Cardboard boxes are reused to ship orders or to carry garbage. Newspaper, tissue paper and styrofoam chips are all reused for packaging.
All used fax paper and old forms are reused for note paper and mailing labels. Even the scotch tape is reused at the photo shop.
But, most importantly, the studio's customers and suppliers are encouraged to practise reuse as well.
Ottawa, Ontario
Contact: David Hillary (613) 733-3070
In 1992, Hillary's Dry Cleaning of Ottawa undertook a number of initiatives which not only reduced waste and helped to preserve the environment, but also resulted in cost savings.
Hillary's installed equipment that eliminated the transfer unit to dry clothes and installed a water circulation unit on the roof at a cost of approximately $500,000. This system will result in the virtual elimination of solvent and wastewater waste. Also, solvent bills have dropped from $5,000 per month to $10 per month and water bills have decreased from $3,000 per month to $200 per month.
To address packaging waste associated with their service, Hillary's instituted the "Hanger Valet" (for $0.43) for storing and returning hangers and a reusable garment bag (for $11.50). A financial incentive was given to employees who sold the reusable garment bags ($1 per bag) and a discount was offered to customers ($1 off dry cleaning when reusable bag is used). Over 10,000 garment bags and 5,000 hanger valets have been distributed in the last two years, resulting in 208,000 fewer plastic bags and 20,000 fewer hangers used.
Hillary's also operates a "Wear and Share" program which collects and drycleans used clothing. The clothing is distributed to needy families. Since the program has been operating, it has produced about 500 pounds of clothing each week! Hillary's also collects and dry cleans 1,500 pieces of winter clothing for needy families through their Snow Suit Drive each year.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Ian Yolles (416) 441-3202
The Body Shop is well known for its environmental initiatives. Not only are its products produced with the least possible impact on the Earth, but business activities are conducted in an environmentally responsible way.
When it comes to packaging, the Body Shop takes a minimalist approach. Only recycled paper is used throughout the organization for business cards, letterhead, envelopes, computer and photocopying paper and catalogues. All ink used for printing and glue for sealing is non-toxic. No CFC foams are used for cap liners, packing chips or insulation purposes, and the company has never used aerosols for any of its products. The Body Shop tries to both encourage and facilitate the reduction and reusing of materials. As part of this process, the company offers a refilling program for plastic and glass bottles in all stores. Since the program began in 1992, the Body Shop has refilled over 62,520 bottles--that is a savings of 1,201,908.43 grams of plastic and 43,514.2 grams of glass. The Body Shop also offers a recycling service to its customers. Virtually all of the packaging is recyclable and each store in the country has a recycling bin for customers to return used packaging.
This sense of environmental responsibility is reflected in the Body Shop's new "old" Canadian corporate headquarters building. Constructed at a cost of $58 per square metre (comparable to traditional construction methods) the new office loses less heat, spreads more sunlight, recycles more water, reuses more perfectly good materials, uses fewer toxins, and makes work more enjoyable for more employees than most buildings.
The construction and design of the Body Shop's "Home Office" building allowed the company to divert and reuse resources that would otherwise have been landfilled. Lighting and plumbing fixtures were reused; double-glazed windows which were destined for landfill were purchased; and the demolition contractor was instructed to reuse and recycle all demolition waste. The purchase of construction materials paralleled the Body Shop's product purchasing policy of sourcing products with recycled content wherever possible. As a result, the carpet is made of 100% recycled nylon fibre; the drywall contains recycled content; and a post-consumer recycled paint was used. The office also composts organic kitchen waste at a rate of approximately 2.5 kg per day. Perhaps the most notable feature of the building is a biological wastewater treatment system--The Living Machine--which allows sewage to be cleaned on-site before being released into the municipal sewer system. Ultimately, the treated water will be re-routed back into the building for non-potable uses, reused on-site for landscaping or discharged to a wetland built to handle stormwater.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: David Hall (416) 532-1152
The Dufferin Mall recycling program began in 1992. The program includes corrugated cardboard, glass, cans, newspaper, fine paper, polystyrene, and coat hangers. These materials are collected through 64 common area receptacles and specially designed containers in the Food Court. Each store in the mall also has a Blue Box which collects most of the above materials and is picked up on a regular basis. Pre-consumer food waste is also collected from the cafeteria area by a hauling company to be composted.
Dufferin Mall is making it easier for its customers to recycle. In addition to common receptacles for pop cans and glass, the mall has established a drop-off centre for fine paper. In the first year of the program, Dufferin Mall was able to divert 48% of its waste from landfill through recycling programs.
Scarborough, Ontario
Contact: Bob Sawatsky (416) 750-4000
Construction materials that would otherwise end up in landfill get a new lease on life at the Reuze Building Centre. Everything from used doors, kitchen cabinets and toilets to discarded flagstone, tubs and lighting fixtures find new homes, thereby helping to build environmental awareness. The items are collected (or picked up), cleaned, and resold for less than half of their original retail value. In 1993, the Reuze Building Centre diverted 92 tonnes of materials from landfill for reuse.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Diane Davis (416) 979-3444
The Enterprise Property Group incorporated environmental considerations into the design, engineering, and construction of their office space when they relocated.
MATERIALS AND PRODUCT SELECTION:
MILLWORK:
FLOORS & FLOOR COVERING:
A variety of environmentally preferred floor coverings were used
throughout the office including:
SYSTEMS FURNITURE
GREEN ADMINISTRATION
Waterloo, Ontario
Contact: Nick Wetzel (519) 747-0664
The Habitat Re-store collects used construction materials that would otherwise end up in landfill. Items such as doors, windows, kitchens, toilets, shelves, lighting and siding are donated to the store and resold to residents at 50-75% of the price that new materials cost. About 75% of the materials are donated by homeowners doing renovations and the remainder are donated by contractors. The store is financially self-supporting and all of the profits are given to Habitat for Humanity, a program that builds houses for people who cannot otherwise afford to enter the housing market. In the first 15 months that the store was open, it diverted 284,675 pounds of materials from landfill and donated $16,000 to Habitat for Humanity.
Oakville, Ontario
Contact: Carlo Gormi (905) 391-3445
The "House Strip" was a residential waste reduction demonstration project launched in Oakville in 1990. The project involved carefully removing all reusable construction components, bathroom fixtures and kitchen appliances from a bungalow undergoing extensive renovations. Normally, these items would be carelessly removed and disposed of at a landfill site. All items were offered for sale to the public at an on-site environmental yard sale.
The project ended up diverting over 90% of materials from landfill and not only saved $600 in tipping fees, but made $350 in revenue from the yard sale. The home owners graciously donated this revenue to the Institute for the Prevention of Child Abuse.
See Enterprise Property Group case study in the Construction and Demolition.
Ottawa, Ontario
Contact: Frank Licari (613) 596-8420
In 1993, the Ottawa Citizen diverted 94% of its waste from landfill through a comprehensive 3Rs program. The recycling program includes the following materials: fine paper, corrugated cardboard, metal cans, waste kitchen oil, laser printer cartridges, glass, newspaper, waste ink, newsblank, aluminum plates, negatives, plastic film, pallets, batteries, and newsprint cores. In addition, staff are encouraged to use their own washable mugs and every effort was made to reuse and recycle construction waste generated during a building expansion. This waste minimization program has resulted in a financial savings in excess of $200,000.
At the outset of this program, the Ottawa Citizen created an Environmental Services Committee that has representation from virtually every department in the organization. These representatives have input into the design and implementation of the program, and are responsible for ensuring the enthusiastic support and participation by their respective departments. This committee has been central to the success of the Ottawa Citizen's waste minimization program. The Committee plans to expand the employee education program to include a program logo, training and education seminars, employee newsletter, special events, department-by-department interpretation of waste audits and design, and implementation of an environmental orientation program for new employees.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Jim Campbell (416) 784-6285
The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was the driving force behind a new initiative to recycle office paper including laser printed paper into 100% recycled paper for their own use.
In conjunction with Inter City Papers, 139,000 pounds of office paper was collected, 40,000 lbs from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, and sent to the Cross Pointe Paper mill in West Carlton, Ohio to be processed using new technology which can accommodate laser printer toner in the de-inking process.
The project named "Closing the Loop" was also designed with a commitment by CIBC to re-purchase the same paper fibres now remanufactured into "CIBC Stationary Offset". The project has been so successful that CIBC intends to target over 50 more forms which service more than 20 million customers for the same program.
Inter City Papers now offers this service to other customers.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Wendy Smith (416) 285-2871
In 1993, Scotiabank created an Environmental Policy Department to address issues surrounding the 3Rs. This department administers the environmental programs of the bank, promotes staff environmental awareness and assists in raising supplier and vendor awareness of environmental responsibility. Existing initiatives administered by the new department include:
In addition, the Scotiabank is planning more waste-reducing initiatives. Soon, technology will be in place to allow the Bank to suppress Visa payment envelopes for customers who make payments through branch, ABM or Telephone Banking, a skid return program is being negotiated with suppliers, packaging requirements are being analyzed to ensure the Bank receives the least waste possible, and "Recycling Centres" are being implemented throughout Head Office.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Dave Sparling (416) 327-2671
The Green Workplace program was introduced to Ontario Government Offices in 1991. This program set waste reduction targets of 35% by 1992 and 50% by 1995. The new Maximum Green Program attempts to reduce waste by a further 50% by introducing the following new programs:
The three Ontario government buildings that piloted the program in 1993 saw total diversion rates of 80- 88%. Due to the success of the program, plans are in the works to add over 22,000 government staff to the Maximum Green program.
Paper reduction initiatives are especially important, given that 80% of office waste is paper. The Ministry of Government Services, by producing electronic payroll reports, saved the equivalent of a 300-foot-high stack of paper in one year. An "electronic post office" was set up to enable government employees to communicate using electronic mail rather than conventional paper-generating means. Potentially, if only 10% of interministerial mail were routed electronically, it would save 850,000 sheets of paper and 42,500 envelopes each year.
Composting demonstration sites have been set up at over twenty residential institutions such as correctional facilities and psychiatric hospitals where food can account for up to 70% of waste. Over a five year period, these projects will divert 1,500 tonnes of waste from landfill and save $500,000 in tipping fees.
Two xeriscape (water-conserving) gardens were established to demonstrate this approach to gardening, both to the public and to landscape professionals.
At Science North in Sudbury, a sprinkler system was installed that uses lake water to irrigate the lawns of the centre. This avoids purchasing and using municipally-treated water and hence reduces the amount of water that must be treated.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Janice Oliver (416) 978-4322
In 1989, the University of Toronto developed a Waste Reduction Policy that encouraged existing student- based environmental groups to join the rest of the University population and raise awareness and participation in a Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rethink program. The University currently recycles the following materials on their St. George Campus: mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, commingled glass and metal food containers, scrap wood and metal, polystyrene, laser printer cartridges, batteries, tires, surplus equipment and food waste. This program has reduced waste production by 50%.
The introduction of a "Swap Shop" has produced savings to the departments on campus. Designed for the exchange of surplus equipment and other materials, the Swap Shop is a place where the campus community is encouraged to bring equipment deemed obsolete by the Purchasing Department. In turn, students, faculty, and staff are invited to take any equipment they require for work or study purposes.
Efforts to educate students and staff begin with the Frosh Kits, which are reusable cloth bags containing 3Rs information, a waste reduction pamphlet, the 4R Environment newsletter and newspaper ads.Suppliers also play a part in the University's waste reduction efforts. The Environmental Coordinators wrote to suppliers providing updated mailing lists and asked that their distribution be revised accordingly. As a result, incoming chemical supplies catalogues have been reduced by one third and telephone directories are used centrally and reordered every two years.
Etobicoke, Ontario
Contact: Heather Goodson (416) 394-7570
West Humber Collegiate is an environmentally-focused secondary school which has incorporated environmental issues into all courses in all grades. Students have painted environmental murals on classroom doors and walls; they tend the grounds along the Humber River; and, the school halls are lined with recycling bins. There are 37 projects related to the environment, including creating a peace garden, building a bio-dome learning lab, and developing a student co-op program with environmental placements.
Not only are students learning to integrate the environment into all aspects of their lives, but vandalism has decreased by 80%; the percentage of students on the honour roll has increased from 10% to 25%; absenteeism was reduced by 50%; and, enrolment has doubled since the school became environmentally-focused.
Oshawa, Ontario
Contact: James Ramsey (905) 576-8711
Oshawa General Hospital has had an Environmental Task Force since 1989. The institution recycles fine white paper, coloured paper, corrugated cardboard, glass, pop and tin cans, food waste and plastic printer cartridges, ferrous metals, wood, used kitchen grease, and some food wastes. Each day, unused food from the hospital cafeteria is sent to St. Vincent's Kitchen, an organization which helps to feed the needy of Oshawa. A recent waste audit showed a reduction in waste of 52% from their base year of 1989.
In 1993, the hospital's waste reduction program was given a substantial boost when the hospital shifted focus to the first two Rs. Initiatives include:
Hospital staff are encouraged to look for environmental alternatives in the workplace. This has resulted in the appointment of an "Environmental Champion" in each department of the hospital. Department managers also help to promote environmental issues hospital-wide by reporting on the environmental progress of their areas in their annual quality assurance reports. Also, a quarterly bulletin entitled "Green Theme" is produced by the staff. This newsletter provides staff with pertinent environmental information from both inside and outside the hospital.
Each year, staff organize an environmental day during Earth Week and participation by various hospital departments, as well as outside organizations, helps to communicate to the community the commitment of Oshawa General to protecting the environment. Last year, over 100 hospital employees and their families volunteered their time to plant over 2,000 tree seedlings.
Other initiatives under investigation include the use of a solvent recovery/recycling system in the laboratory, the use of reusable briefs and underpants to replace disposables, and composting of food waste.
Mississauga, Ontario
Contact: John Latam (905) 848-7383
The Mississauga Hospital is a 511-bed, 586,000 sq. ft. facility situated on 25 acres, with approximately 2,200 employees. Concern for the environment has wide support from hospital staff, volunteers, visitors, patients, physicians, and the hospital Board of Directors.
A recent audit identified that the hospital is currently recycling 47% of total waste generated. The recycling program includes office paper, books, boxboard, waxed corrugated cardboard, polycoat, corrugated cardboard, absorbents, telephone books, other paper, metal beverage and food cans, foil, copper wire, silver, clear glass, coloured glass, medial plastics, polystyrene, HDPE, HDPE film, stretch wrap, batteries, food waste (composted), yard waste (composted).
Quarterly recycling audits are completed, and areas that are found to have contaminants are contacted, and their recycling procedures are reviewed.
To help correct contamination problems in public areas, large visual displays have been situated above recycling containers indicating which recyclables go in each bin. This has helped to decrease the amount of contaminants. Table tent cards are also placed on the over bed to inform patients of the recycling program, and where the recycling centres are located.
As part of the commitment to a waste management program, the environmental services department has a dedicated, well-trained waste management team, who are updated constantly on changing regulations.
Mississauga, Ontario
Contact: Glen Trimbal (905) 820-6800
The Credit Valley Hospital conducted two comprehensive waste audits--one for general waste and one for biomedical waste. The results of the audit confirmed that the hospital recycled 28% of its total waste stream in 1992. Currently, recycling volumes have increased to 39%. Biomedical waste reductions of 11% have also been achieved. This information has resulted in the implementation of the following programs:
These recent changes complement programs that have been initiated in the past including implementing computer mail; two-sided photocopying; glass, cans, paper, plastic jugs, wood and cardboard recycling; the use of an enviropac soap system, a scrap wood bin and reusable cloth diapers.
An environmental purchasing policy has been implemented to address packaging, recyclability and cradle-to-grave analysis of large volume and costly products.
Education of staff, volunteers, patients, and visitors is ongoing through timely newsletters. Staff also receive training and participate in a waste reduction suggestion program.
Alliston, Ontario
Contact: Grant Modesto (705) 435-6159
For the past six years, Northern Handle Manufacturing has been replacing broken handles on shovels and tools with new handles, thus saving a usually perfectly good steel shovel blade or tool head. The refurbished tools are then resold to customers at a fraction of the cost of a new tool. In 1993, approximately 1,000 steel shovel blades or tool heads were diverted by replacing broken handles with new ones.
The company also takes the sawdust generated in manufacturing processes to the town compost yard to be composted and distributed to residents for their gardens. In 1993, approximately 25 tonnes of sawdust was diverted from the dump through composting.
Cambridge, Ontario
Contact: Jerry Matwey (519) 425-3314
A series of highly innovative programs have led to substantial waste reduction for this automotive manufacturing plant in Ingersoll. These programs have resulted in a 94% diversion of waste from landfill for a yearly total of 19,800 tons.
CAMI has worked with all its suppliers to implement the practice of returnable containers. To date, CAMI has converted 75% of Canadian suppliers and 33% of foreign suppliers to returnable containers. Where returnable containers are not yet practical, CAMI evaluates all packaging to eliminate all sources of non-recyclable materials such as tape, glue and compound materials, and substitutes these with readily recyclable materials.
The CAMI paint shop uses a closed loop system to capture all the paint line purge solvents. Compressor oils are either sent out to be cleaned and returned or equipment is brought on-site to reclaim them. The CAMI recycling program incudes the following materials: stamping steel, maintenance and construction metals, knock-down box steel, aluminum, copper, copper wire, scrap vehicles, cardboard, wood, paper, newspaper, polystyrene, plastics, glass bottles, and pop cans, empty drums, tires, and batteries. Revenues generated from these recycling programs have offset virtually all operating costs incurred.
Oshawa, Ontario
Contact: Bruce Reid (905) 644-7936
General Motors of Canada has instituted extensive environmental programs.
Product Stewardship:
Vehicle Recycling:
Manufacturing Processes:
Office Administration:
Community Responsibility:
Mississauga, Ontario
Contact: Burton Yeo (905) 279-9100
Mother Parker's Tea & Coffee Inc. has achieved a 95% reduction in waste being hauled to local landfill, through a reuse and recycling program initiated in 1987. Items such as wooden pallets and scrap lumber are now given away to employees and other individuals for reuse and recycling. Coffee bean jute bags are sold to local nurseries for covering shrubs and trees, and various other uses. Used and obsolete corrugated cartons, and scrap metal are sold to local companies. All scrap corrugated and waste paper from the plant and offices are collected and picked up for recycling.
In addition, all coffee by-product waste, such as dust, coffee grounds, and pelletized roaster waste is collected and picked up by a disposal company which further processes it along with other food waste to produce a supplement which is supplied to animal feed manufacturers.
All material cores are collected and transferred to a municipal heating system to be used as a fuel.
A collection program has been implemented which has resulted in all foil/plastic-based wrapping materials being recycled. This material is picked up by the disposal company which transfers it to an extruding company which uses it to make "plastic wood".
Financial savings to the company are in excess of $50,000 annually. This has been accomplished by way of a reduced number of trips to the local landfill site by company trucks and drivers, as well as reduced landfill tipping costs.
Contact: Geoff Rathbone, Laidlaw (905) 333-5011
Since launching the Pitney Bowes Green Office Program in 1990, Pitney Bowes has encouraged thousands of businesses of all sizes to practise the 3Rs in the workplace. The program includes educational guidebooks, posters and a video that are available free-of-charge by calling 1-800-263-4567. In addition, the Pitney Bowes Green Fund provides financial support to environmental groups across Canada for community-based programs to promote good "green office" behaviour.
Out of a concern for the "after-life" of their products, Pitney Bowes teamed up with Laidlaw Waste Systems to expand its Green Office program to include three new programs:
Orillia, Ontario
Contact: Steven Clarke (705) 329-0943
Environmental issues are very important to the owners of Brewery Bay Food Company. Their recycling program includes metal and tin cans, glass jars and bottles, corrugated cardboard, office paper, computer receipts, newspapers, used fryer oil and bottle caps. The restaurant also practises reduction and reuse through the following methods:
In addition to these waste-reducing measures, the restaurant has also instituted a water conservation program, uses nighttime cutbacks on heating and air-conditioning units, uses a fire-up schedule for kitchen equipment to reduce hydro demand, and uses CFC-free packaging and sprays.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Ann Checkly (416) 367-7111
SkyDome Hotel was the first hotel in the Canadian Pacific Hotels & Resorts chain to start a guest room blue box program, a program which helped inspire CP to make this a chain-wide project. In 1990, blue boxes were placed in all suites, stadium-view rooms and skyboxes, with a letter from the General Manager encouraging guests to use them. City of Toronto's Public Works Department even provided a number of blue boxes to the hotel free of charge. The campaign swiftly proved to be an enormous success: response from guests was unanimously positive, and the participation level was high. In 1991, housekeeping collected 12,120 beer bottles, 36, 564 beer cans and 21,040 soft drink cans, from just 70 rooms and suites. By the end of January 1992, all rooms and suites were equipped with blue boxes.
Recycling is also happening in offices throughout the hotel: in fact, in 1991, enough paper was recycled to save 200 trees. Old newspapers are collected from guest rooms and recycled. Newspapers are no longer delivered to rooms in plastic bags.
The hotel environmental committee also helped launch a soap recycling program: used bars of guest room soap are collected in plastic pails by room attendants and deposited at the end of each day in a central reservoir. Once a quantity of soap is collected, it is sent to a charitable organization. Amenity bottles are also collected for recycling.
Half-used rolls of toilet paper and facial tissues boxes not suitable to be left in guest rooms are collected and used in staff facilities and offices.
Coat hangers are returned to the dry cleaners for reuse, reusable wicker laundry/valet baskets are now used instead of cardboard for packaging guest laundry, and the only other cardboard boxes coming into the hotel are either used to package and mail lost and found articles for guests, or taken to a compactor in the Dome.
Empty toxic waste containers (paint tins, etc) are deposited into a separate container for hazardous waste at the Dome. Used photocopier cartridges are sent back to Xerox for recycling. Polystyrene cups are no longer available in the staff cafeteria, instead, each employee is given a reusable plastic mug for their own use, compliments of the hotel environmental committee.
A full internal communications program ensures that employees within the hotel are kept up to date on the green plan. A column has been set aside in the hotel's monthly in-house publication for use by the environment committee. All new employees are given information on the green program, and a reusable mug as a welcome present from the committee. They are also given a tour of all recycling areas within the hotel and the Dome. Also, an Individual Environmental Achievement Award is given each year to a hotel employee.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Roger Davis (416) 597-8118
In early 1991, Crown Plaza started to recycle paper, cardboard, kitchen fats, scrap metal and glass, and saved the hotel over $5,000 in garbage pick-up costs that year. Crown Plaza has come up with many creative ways to reduce waste at source: guest room laundry bags (formerly plastic and disposable) are now made from retired bed sheets, and are reusable. Fruit baskets and gifts are no longer wrapped in cellophane, and newspapers are no longer delivered in plastic bags. In January 1992, Crown Plaza began recycling newspaper and cans (aluminum and steel). Sometimes small changes result in considerable savings: by discontinuing the use of polystyrene cups and individual creamers in the staff restaurant, Crown Plaza is saving $3,450 annually. Perhaps the most striking example of Crown Plaza's environmental program success is in the area of energy conservation. With the involvement of Ontario Hydro, Crown Plaza switched its 40-W fluorescent tubes to 34-W tubes, an investment of $10,000 which paid off swiftly: the first year energy savings were over $25,000 and, to top it off, Crown Plaza qualified for an Ontario Hydro conservation rebate of $1,900!
Crown Plaza is on the cutting edge of energy conservation techniques: in 1991 they installed a building management computer and installed timers on all lighting circuits. During off-peak periods, entire guest rooms can be closed and energy-gobbling boilers can be shut down. In 1991, the gas bill was down $8,300. Additionally, water-saving showerheads have been installed in all Entree Gold guest rooms, in a replacement program which will be continued throughout the hotel.
Toronto, Ontario
Contact: Ann Checkly (416) 367-7111
The Royal York Hotel has been recognized by Meetings and Incentive Travel magazine as "Toronto's most advanced hotel" on the environmental front. The achievements of this 1400-room hotel are certainly remarkable: since 1989, the Royal York has cut its waste output by 40%, launched ambitious conservation programs and introduced extensive recycling programs.
Some of the hotel's environmental projects have been high-tech, like the installation of occupancy sensors in guest rooms which automatically adjust the temperature to a pre-set level whenever a room is empty. Guests are able to adjust the temperature when they are in the room.
Many of the hotel's environmental programs are old-fashioned common sense. For example, when guest towels and sheets are damaged, they are cut up and used as rags. For many years, the Royal York has been involved with Second Harvest, a Toronto organization which collects food and redistributes it to relief agencies in the city. After the breakfast rush is over, muffins, croissants, danishes and other baked foods are picked up from the hotel and delivered to Second Harvest while still fresh.
The hotel has recycling programs for aluminum, glass, cardboard, newsprint, fine paper, hand soap and plastic pails. Organic waste in the kitchen is reduced and compressed through a Hobart Press waste disposal system. Through the Hobart system and the hotel's recycling programs, waste output has dropped so much that the hotel no longer needs to use its on-site incinerator.
Additionally, as waste disposal costs in Toronto have risen, cost savings have become evident. It is estimated that in 1991 the hotel saved $260,000 in waste removal costs over the year as a direct result of the environmental measures taken. Savings have appeared in other areas too: a $25,000 program of replacing leaky steam traps and fixing leaks decreased steam consumption levels from 160 million to 130 million pounds per year. Annual cost savings are estimated at over $200,000. There are over 30 thousand light bulbs in the Royal York Hotel. As part of the environmental program, the hotel is now starting to convert these bulbs to more energy-efficient alternatives: depending on the site, either lower-wattage incandescent or compact fluorescent bulbs are being used. The hotel is also keeping the ozone layer in mind: not only have aerosols been eliminated from use, the hotel has also installed a freon management system to recapture old freon gas when chillers are being repaired by the air conditioning department. In the fall of 1992, the Royal York installed blue boxes in every guest room, joining Canadian Pacific Hotels and Resorts across the country in inviting guests to pitch in for the environment while they are on the road.
This cross-sectoral sampling of waste reduction success stories was developed by the Recycling Council of Ontario (RCO). The RCO is always looking for innovative waste reduction success stories. Our annual Waste Minimization Awards Program recognizes outstanding initiatives. For more information on the awards program or to receive a nomination form, e-mail Cara or call (416) 960-1025.
The Recycling Council of Ontario's e-mail address is: rco@rco.on.ca.
