Recycling in the Hotel Industry:

Discover essential waste management tips for your business.

Recycling is a process by which discarded materials are collected, processed and transformed into new products. This practice not only reduces the need for virgin raw materials, but also reduces the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, helping to conserve natural resources and reduce pollution.  

To understand the importance of recycling, it is crucial to recognise its place within the waste management hierarchy. This model is based on the three Rs; reduce, reuse, recycle.

While recycling is essential, the initial focus should be on reduction and reuse to alleviate pressure on recycling systems. 

Not all materials are equally recyclable. The recyclability largely depends on the material type and processing infrastructure. Here are some examples: 

• Paper and cardboard: generally easy to recycle into new products if clean and dry. 

• Metals: aluminum and steel are highly recyclable and can be recycled indefinitely without quality loss. 
• Glass: 100% recyclable and can be reused multiple times without losing quality. 

• Plastics: recyclability varies widely depending on the type and management. 

You can recycle various types of materials in your hotel, among them: 

• Glass bottles and jars: recycle wine bottles, water bottles and food jars. 

• Cardboard: including packaging boxes, office paper and other cardboard products. 

• Plastic bottles: such as water bottles, soft drinks and cleaning products. 

• Food and beverage cans: aluminum and steel food and beverage cans. 

• Printer cartridges: recycle empty ink and toner       cartridges. 

• Electrical items: isused electronic equipment and appliances. 

In our look at innovative waste and recycling practices in the hotel sector, we’d like to spotlight our partner Accor. Although their sustainability efforts cover a range of areas, they have made notable strides in improving waste management and recycling, such as these:

1. Single-use plastics

Starting with plastics, which are a major focus of their sustainability efforts, Accor has launched an ambitious initiative to eliminate single-use plastic products across its hotels. Here are the results for 2023:

A large proportion of this waste comes from single-use products, which have become standard practice in providing comfort and convenience to guests. Single-use plastics, such as food packaging, bags and bottles, are rapidly filling up landfills and oceans, as they do not decompose fast enough.

Their negative impact on the environment is alarming for several reasons: 

• Durability and persistence: plastic can take centuries to decompose, accumulating in landfills and oceans. 

• Ecosystem contamination: microplastics contaminate soils and waters, affecting marine life and entering the food chain. 

• Recycling challenges: the variety and contamination of plastics complicates their recycling, limiting their effectiveness.

• Impact on wildlife: animals can ingest plastics, leading to clogging, disease and death. 

But ... what can the 

hotel industry do?

• Cost savings: lower waste disposal fees and potential revenue from recyclable materials like metals and cardboard. 

• Saving space:  less waste means more space and tidier storage areas. 

• Enhanced image: recycling boosts your hotel's sustainability credentials and improves its environmental reputation. 

• Environmental impact: Reduces the volume of waste sent to landfills, lessening your hotel’s ecological footprint. 

• Guest appeal: attracts eco-conscious travelers who value sustainable practices. 

• Regulatory compliance: helps meet environmental regulations and avoid potential fines. 

Accor is committed to reducing food waste by 60% by 2030. The company is employing various technologies and practices to achieve this goal:

• Winnow: This AI-powered system measures and scans discarded food in kitchens to halve food waste. Currently, 54 hotels are using Winnow to enhance food waste management.
• Orbisk: Another advanced tool, Orbisk uses AI-connected scales to analyze discarded food. Over 150 hotels utilize Orbisk to cut waste and improve kitchen efficiency.

Notable cases:

• Pullman Paris Montparnasse: Introduced a pioneering organic waste recovery system that converts 95% of waste into biogas. The hotel manages 12 types of waste through recycling.
• Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport: Achieved a 50% reduction in food waste in six months using Orbisk scales, preventing over 1,375 meals from being discarded and lowering CO2 emissions.

Accor has formed international partnerships with Green Key and Green Globe to promote sustainable hotel certification. These certifications often include waste management criteria, supporting hotels in implementing more sustainable and efficient waste practices.

They are also adopting innovative farming and food sourcing practices.

Notable cases:

• Fairmont Singapore and Swissôtel The Stamford: These hotels have collaborated to convert their shared garden into an aquaponics system. In this system, fish waste provides nutrients for growing vegetables, while plants help purify the water. Between January and August 2023, they harvested over 25 kilograms of fresh, pesticide-free produce, contributing to a reduced carbon footprint from their supply chain.
• Mövenpick Resort Aswan: This hotel has established a 30,000 m² eco-farm, one of the largest of its kind in Egypt. The farm supplies fresh produce directly to guests, reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.

In addition, they have launched several initiatives to optimise water use and reduce waste:

• "Skip the Clean" Project: Encourages guests staying more than one night to skip daily room cleaning, reducing water consumption by up to 12% per occupied room.
• Water-Saving Devices: Many hotels have installed flow regulators and aerators to control water usage and detect leaks, improving water efficiency.
• Greywater Reuse and Rainwater Collection: Some hotels have systems to reuse greywater and collect rainwater for non-potable uses, such as irrigation.