THE importance of recycling is being highlighted via a collaboration between Government and private industry. Entitled the Recycle Bermuda Business Partnership Initiative, its aim is to boost awareness of the environment by highlighting the need for the entire community to “reduce, reuse and recycle”.

Government made the announcement at a press conference attended by Works & Engineering Minister Dennis Lister and those companies it had partnered with — the Fairmont Southampton Princess, the ACE Group, the Bank of Bermuda, Butterfield Bank and Cambridge Beaches.

“When the recycling facility was opened in April, it marked the start of a major island-wide campaign to build awareness and educate residents on the value of recycling — particularly tin, aluminium and glass,” said Mr. Lister.

“Recycling is a partnership between the Government, every organisation and each resident, all of whom have a stake in Bermuda’s future.

“In addition to schools, residents and Government employees, we believe the business community and the island’s hotel establishments can play a critical role in raising awareness of the environment and take steps to reduce, reuse and recycle.

“While recognising that many organisations have already made a strong commitment to raising awareness about protecting the environment and have introduced environmentally-friendly programmes, Government believes it can work in partnership with businesses and hotels to boost these efforts, particularly in the area of recycling.

“The Recycle Bermuda Business Partnership Initiative commits local businesses to increase recycling awareness and participation within their companies as well as encouraging their staff to recycle both at work and at home.”

The programme was commended by the Fairmont Southampton Princess. According to the hotel’s environmental chairman Jason Pick, recycling and energy conservation have long been standard practice there.

“We take our environmental responsibilities at Fairmont very seriously and encourage a ‘reduce’ philosophy throughout all areas of the hotel,” he stated.

“The company implemented a Green Partnership Programme in 1990 and we have been dedicated environmental stewards since then.”

Mr. Pick, who is also the hotel’s assistant golf course superintendent, described several practices which have seen great success at the property.

“On an ongoing basis we turn off office lights and computers at night, install low-volume showerheads and use high efficiency light bulbs. Our air-conditioning schedules are based on meeting room and guest occupancy levels so that only those rooms in use are air conditioned.

“We also use patio sensors so that the air-conditioning system automatically shuts down if the door nearby is open (and) we take advantage of natural light, where possible, through the design of large east and west facing windows.”

An upgrade to the hotel’s laundry facilities last year has seen “dramatic savings in water and power usage”, he added. And the property has cut its use of plastic, by placing water jugs and glasses in meeting rooms instead of bottles.

“This in line with our ‘eco-meet’ incentive,” said Mr. Pick. “We currently separate and dispose of metals, wood, kitchen grease, batteries and motor oils, and compost all horticultural waste.

“Bottles and cans are recycled from our golf course operation — which is the first component of our recycling programme — and result in 16 cubic yards of recyclables per month.

“And our reverse osmosis plant produces 250,000 gallons of water per week by removing sodium from salt water, which is used throughout the hotel property.”

The hotel has partnered with Dolphin Quest, to ship “old cell phones, printers and toner cartridges” off the island to recycling plants. A similar arrangement is in place for used batteries, while its business centre re-uses shredded paper for packing.

The efforts extend to hotel guests and into the community, Mr. Pick added.

“Fairmont guests have the option of not having their sheets or towels refreshed daily and our staff are encouraged to ‘bring a mug’ to the cafeteria, which reduces the use of paper cups.

“We provide linens, mattresses and hotel amenities as well as any unclaimed, lost items to the Pembroke Women’s Shelter, Hands of Love and the Physical Abuse Centre. We also donate used computers to local schools.”

The Minister praised the companies for their involvement in the scheme, saying he hoped that their commitment would be emulated by other businesses.

“The requirements of this initiative include introducing recycle receptacles within the work place, ensuring recyclables are collected and delivered to the Recycling Centre and promotion of the three Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) and circulating recycling literature throughout the company on a monthly basis,” he explained.

“Recycle Bermuda Business Partners need to implement these requirements within three months to become a recognised partner and those companies that meet these requirements will receive a Recycle Bermuda plaque and a certificate of participation.

“Government will also promote the efforts of those recycling business partners who undertake initiatives to promote recycling in the work place.

“These are the just the basic requirements but we encourage companies to develop their own initiatives whether to save energy, reduce the use of paper documents, recycle outdated telephone books, or provide canvas bags for shopping.

“The support of our first recycle Bermuda partners bodes well for our efforts to engage the community in doing more to recycle. It also demonstrates that our new partners recognise the benefits of recycling which include reducing waste, saving our natural resources, saving energy and reducing green house gasses.

“These organisations also understand that recycling is more than an environmental and economic issue, it’s part of our legacy to future generations. While Government encourages recycling at the workplace, for the recycling campaign to be a success recycling should also be promoted in the home.”

Such a programme enables staff at participating companies to share their knowledge with kids at home.