FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2014
DEP RECOGNIZES THE WESTIN DIPLOMAT RESORT AND SPA FOR OUTSTANDING RECYCLING EFFORTS
~Hotel achieves notable 41.2 percent recycling rate~
From left to right: David Twitchell, Ed Walls, Mauricio Gutierrez and Cliff Wilson.
HOLLYWOOD – The Florida Department of
Environmental Protection recognized the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa today
for its superior recycling efforts. In 2013, this world-renowned hotel achieved
a recycling rate of 41.2 percent. The Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa is
the first hotel to qualify for the DEP’s Recycling Recognition Program.
DEP’s Deputy Secretary Cliff Wilson joined Westin Diplomat’s
General Manager Ed Walls, Director of Engineering David Twitchell and
Sustainability Chairperson Mauricio Gutierrez for a recognition ceremony at the
resort today.
"The tourism industry is a major player in Florida's economy and can have a significant impact on our environment," said DEP's Deputy Secretary Cliff Wilson. “The Westin Diplomat is leading the way for the hotel industry with
their recycling efforts and sustainability activities, showing that this
industry can thrive while being good stewards to the environment.”
In 2013, this beachfront resort
recycled more than 950 tons. The Westin Diplomat formed a sustainability committee six years ago, which led to a greater emphasis on recycling. The
resort works with Waste Management to employ single-stream recycling to simplify the efforts of various people involved in managing the waste stream of the
large resort complex. In 2012, their partnership with Waste Management led to
an organics program - collecting food waste primarily from kitchens and prep
into 90 gallon totes for pickup three times per week. Additionally, an
effective kitchen grease reclamation program converts the grease into
bio-diesel fuel. The Westin Diplomat also requires all landscape trimmings to
be recycled.
Director of Engineering David Twitchell said, "On behalf of the entire team at the Westin Diplomat, we are very pleased
and honored to receive this recognition from Florida DEP for all of the hard
work by scores of Diplomat Ambassadors to make this happen. Our intent is to leverage the momentum of the
recognition to further inspire our team here to new heights in recycling and
sustainability awareness and initiatives."
The department recently released the 2013
municipal solid waste annual report, which reported Florida’s statewide
recycling rate at 49 percent. In 2008, the Florida Legislature established a
new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent to be achieved by 2020. The Westin
Diplomat is headquartered in Broward County, which ranks 11th in the state for
total recycling in 2013, at 53 percent. Florida is visited by nearly 100
million visitors per year, visitors who stay in hotels and resorts throughout
the state. With a recycling rate more than 40 percent, the Westin Diplomat is
an excellent example for other Florida businesses, especially those in the hospitality
industry.
Commercial municipal solid
waste accounts for approximately 55 percent of the total municipal solid waste
stream in Florida. In order for Florida to reach its 75-percent goal, the
department is urging all sectors, especially the commercial sector, to actively
increase its recycling efforts. According to the 2013 data, less than half of
commercial waste is being recycled. It is crucial that businesses, schools and
other commercial recyclers increase their recycling efforts. Recycling provides
a direct cost savings to most businesses because the more that is recycled, the less waste and lower waste-management operating costs. Reuse of materials
can also represent a cost savings.
The
department has an easy tool for companies to track their recycling efforts
-- the Florida
DEP Business Recycling Tracking Tool. Through the website, which
includes free registration, companies can track different types of recycling
efforts and produce reports on how those efforts are helping to shrink their
carbon footprint. The tracking will help the department to recognize companies
that are doing more to go green. For more information about the Recycling
Recognition Program click here.
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