KEY WEST, FLA.—Waste Management and Casa Marina, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, teamed up to make the Seventh Annual Southeast Florida Regional Climate Leadership Summit a successful, first-ever Zero Waste Event in Florida.
At the Summit held in Key West which concluded December 3, Waste Management and hotel personnel worked together to recycle 90.3 percent (1,713 pounds) of all waste generated by the more than 400 attendees at the summit. The remaining 9.7 percent of waste was processed at a waste-to-energy facility and produced renewable energy in the form of electricity.
Traditional recyclables (431 pounds)—including cardboard, paper, and plastic items and aluminum and steel cans—were processed at Waste Management’s Reuter Recycling Facility in Pembroke Pines.
Organic material, or food scraps (1,282 pounds), were recycled at the company’s Okeechobee Organics Recycling Facility and turned into compost.
First Time for Zero Waste Event
“This was the first time in Florida that Waste Management was able to partner with a hotel customer and achieve a Zero Waste conference event,” said Greg Sullivan, Senior District Manager of Waste Management of the Florida Keys. “Our combined teams worked diligently together, both front- and back-of-house, to educate attendees and staff to ensure all waste was diverted to the proper containers for collection and processing.”
“We enjoyed joining forces with our conference planners and their attendees on these types of events and worthy causes to help reduce waste and provide a more sustainable meeting, as well as continue our commitment to Travel with Purpose,” said Ron Day, the resort’s general manager. “Operating in a responsible and sustainable manner is a Hilton Worldwide priority and a central part of our Meet with Purpose concept, designed to make it easier for meeting professionals to reduce waste and incorporate health and wellness into meetings and events.”
Meet with Purpose provides meeting professionals with sustainable choices to incorporate into events that not only enhance the experiences of attendees, but also align with many customers’ corporate responsibility goals. More information on Meet with Purpose can be found by clicking here.
