KEY WEST, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--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.
“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 on http://connectplusathiltonworldwide.com.
About Waste Management
Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.
About Travel with Purpose
Travel with Purpose is Hilton Worldwide's corporate responsibility commitment to providing shared value to its business and communities in four areas - creating opportunities for individuals to reach their full potential; strengthening communities where Hilton Worldwide operates; celebrating cultures and the power of travel; and living sustainably through the measurement, analysis and improvement of the company's use of natural resources. Visit http://cr.hiltonworldwide.com/ for more information.
About Hilton Worldwide
Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a leading global hospitality company, spanning the lodging sector from luxury and full-service hotels and resorts to extended-stay suites and focused-service hotels. For 96 years, Hilton Worldwide has been dedicated to continuing its tradition of providing exceptional guest experiences. The company's portfolio of twelve world-class global brands is comprised of more than 4,500 managed, franchised, owned and leased hotels and timeshare properties, with more than 745,000 rooms in 97 countries and territories, including Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Curio – A Collection by Hilton, DoubleTree by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, Hilton Garden Inn, Hampton by Hilton, Homewood Suites by Hilton, Home2 Suites by Hilton and Hilton Grand Vacations. The company also manages an award-winning customer loyalty program, Hilton HHonors®. Hilton HHonors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to benefits including free standard Wi-Fi, as well as digital amenities that are available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton HHonors app, where HHonors members can check-in, choose their room, and access their room using a Digital Key. Visit news.hiltonworldwide.com for more information and connect with Hilton Worldwide at www.facebook.com/hiltonworldwide, www.twitter.com/hiltonworldwide, www.youtube.com/hiltonworldwide, www.flickr.com/hiltonworldwide, and www.linkedin.com/company/hilton-worldwide.
