Solid and liquid waste management

Resort, hotels and restaurants produce large quantities of grey water (discharge from washing machine, baths) and black water (from kitchen dishwashing and toilets). Hotels also generate large quantities of solid waste. This ranges from packaging and food scraps to cleaning and maintenance materials, many of which can be toxic.

Why should you care?

• Ineffective waste management is bad for your business as it can lead to pollution of the surrounding environment and illness from bacterial infections amongst guest and staff members. This will increase the number of client cancellations and reduce the number of repeat clients, particularly as many tourist use the internet to blog or comment about places they visit around the world.

• Coastal pollution can not only scare away clients but has a huge impact on the ecological integrity of the marine environment your business relies on. Solid and liquid waste dumped directly into the ocean or rivers can destroy coral reefs, reduce fish populations and make the water and neighbouring beaches unsightly for recreational activities. Clients are less likely to choose your establishment, if they have a choice of one which offers a healthy marine environment.

What can you do?

• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Minimize your wastewater discharge by reducing water use. Use biodegradable detergents and cleaning agents. Reuse treated gray water for washing floors, flushing toilets and irrigating gardens and golf courses. Separate waste at the source, rather than having to go through all the trash after it is collected.  You can provide containers for recyclables in guest rooms and staff areas as well as compost bins in kitchen work areas. Recycle or reuse paper, plastic and glass products in your daily operations.

Banyan Tree Resort, Seychelles, is leading the way with recycling waste oil from their kitchens, which is converted to Biodiesel and used in their vehicles to further reduce their reliance on non-renewable energy. Constance Lemuria Resort uses waste water from their Sewage Treatment Plant to water their 18-hole golf course.

• Work together with your community. Coordinate with other businesses, private organizations and the local government to support the development of efficient waste separation, collection, recycling and treatment systems in your area.

A healthy coral reef protects adjacent sandy beaches from erosion providing tourist with the idyllic beaches to write home about (PHOTO Charles Savy)