HOW WE PARTNERED WITH THE MERRION HOTEL TO TRANSFORM RECYCLING
Driven by a strong commitment to environmental responsibility, The Merrion Hotel in Dublin has partnered with Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) to intensify its efforts towards achieving its target of becoming a zero-waste hotel by 2025. With a focus on waste and recycling management, the luxury five-star hotel has seen its recycling rate increase to 74% and its costs reduce thanks to upgrading its recycling systems and introducing an employee training and engagement programme.
Read on to find out how we helped The Merrion tackle their waste management challenges.
What challenges was The Merrion facing?
One of The Merrion’s most pressing challenges was reducing the rate at which its waste was ending up in landfill. Not only was this impacting negatively on the environment, but it was also imposing a significant financial burden due to increasing waste disposal costs.
To exacerbate the issue, its waste management processes were inefficient, requiring substantial labour hours to meticulously sort and separate materials to prevent contamination. The existing system was disjointed, with different types of containers and no adequate signage across various parts of the hotel.
The hotel was also having difficulty motivating employees to actively participate in recycling efforts thanks to recycling guidelines that were overly complex and confusing leading to disengagement and a lack of understanding about which materials could be recycled where.
“Our holistic approach, encompassing equipment upgrades, staff training, and process optimisation, has transformed our waste management practices. By creating a supportive environment for recycling, we have not only reduced our environmental impact but also achieved substantial financial benefits.”
Marcin Sady, Head of Procurement and Sustainability
Working together to create an efficient waste management system
After consulting with RCP about changes that could help them improve operational efficiency as well as reduce costs, The Merrion upgraded from a disjointed waste management system that had different types of containers and signage.
While The Merrion made changes to increase recycling, such as removing landfill bins from non-guest areas and implementing closed-lid systems, one of the most impactful changes recommended by RCP was introducing consistent colour-coded bins with clear labelling throughout the hotel.
With the changes made, recycling is now visually clear for The Merrion’s employees as there is one consistent system spread across the hotel, making it easier for everyone to follow the same procedures and making the process of recycling more effective.
The new system has proved instrumental in guiding staff towards correct disposal and has yielded significant cost savings in waste disposal. In addition, as the containers and other equipment are durable and reliable, The Merrion has not had to worry about frequent replacements or breakdowns.
“We’ve implemented a much more cohesive and effective system. The new provision we have in place works significantly better because it’s a unified system that covers the entire hotel. Splitting the waste properly and effectively has become much easier, which directly supports and drives our recycling efforts.”
Marcin Sady, Head of Procurement and Sustainability
CREATING A RECYCLING CULTURE
With the new, simpler system in place, The Merrion recognised that an employee training programme was needed to educate staff on the changes and to help build a culture of recycling compliance. The hotel developed a comprehensive Level 1 Zero Waste training programme that incorporated the RCP bins and labelling principles. The training empowered staff with the knowledge and motivation to recycle effectively and within two months, over 70% of the workforce had completed the programme, resulting in a 13% increase in recycle rate.
“RCP’s approach goes well beyond the typical manufacturer-client relationship. From the outset, they demonstrated a commitment to truly understanding our needs. They asked insightful questions, conducted a thorough investigation of our site, and took the time to get to know the complexities of our business operations. This was crucial because every hotel has unique challenges, and they recognised that a one-size-fits-all solution simply wouldn’t work.”
Marcin Sady, Head of Procurement and Sustainability
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