(last updated: April 2008) . . . .
- We have minimised office waste through efficient use of office consumables such as; ‘green printing’ initiatives, us of ‘paplers’ instead of staplers, use of Officemax toner recycling scheme, paper waste is either recycled or incinerated for ash use of gardens
- Implemented a small worm farm for staff waste and a small amount of paper waste. We use the vermcast from this to fertilise growth of our plant cuttings for further Resort landscaping
- Replaced all bottled and packaged in-room guest supplies such as soaps/shampoos/conditioners with a dispenser system in each room to cutout packaging & ‘leftovers’ waste
- Attached stainless steel dolphin figurines to every stormwater drain on the property to promote ‘tip no waste to sea’ and reduce the risk of pollution
- Implemented a checklist of sustainability aspects to be included in the day-to-day activities of housekeeping and grounds staff
- We have replaced the plastic bin liner bags that we use in our units with biodegradable bags
- We have re-written our company mission statement to include our commitment to the Sustainable Tourism Charter
- We have displayed the Bay of Plenty Sustainable Tourism Charter in our Reception area and provided information on our commitment to it in our in-room compendiums and on our website
- We have lobbied industry groups in relation to the selection, supply and packaging of branded consumable items, seeking to identify sustainable alternatives to current products and packaging
- In all our landscaping, we have planted a variety of native plants & succulents that require less water, pesticides, fertilisers & herbicides. We are also regularly taking cuttings from these and using the vermcast from our worm-farm to fertilise the growth of the cuttings. Also have succeeded in attracting more NZ native birds
- We have conducted a waste audit
- Through our reception, in-room compendiums & website, we have provided information on the Bay of Plenty’s unique regional history, culture and natural environment
- We have incorporated recommendations from Qualmark assessments into our sustainable tourism action plan.
- When undertaking drafting, building or re-furbishing, we have and will continue to, select and use sustainable materials & products where possible. As well as ensuring that energy efficiency is maximised in buildings when undertaking such builds or re-furbishments (i.e. maximise natural light, insulation etc)
- We have installed flow restrictors on all taps within the Resort (units & blocks)
- We have replaced electric dryers in all amenity blocks with more efficient gas dryers
- We built extra washing lines a year ago & have signs in the laundries showing the location of these to use rather than the driers. There are signs on the drier doors asking guests to clean the lint screens prior to using the drier for drying efficiency, and it is in the job descriptions of our cleaning staff to vacuum and clean the lint screens on every clean
- Prior to peak season 2007, we replaced all hand driers in the Resort with paper towel dispensers. This is far more hygienic. Paper towels are then recycled. Some paper towel waste is used on the worm farm, however the volume is too large to dispose of the lot this way. We have recently started incinerating waste also. The ash from this is deposited on the gardens
- We have added to both the housekeeping & amenity block cleaning job descriptions & manuals that they are to check fridge seals & settings (on 3) on each clean & cleaning of coils regularly. Also ‘reminder’ signs have been placed in amenity block cleaning store room cupboards. This ensures the efficiency of the fridges & adds to their usable life
- We have implemented the correct sanitary waste receptacles
- We have also cut out the use of Round up in the Resort grounds by purchasing a mechanical edger to keep the road edges tidy. The waste created by the edger is used in our compost. Where we would still need to use ‘roundup’ we now use a product called Hitman. It is a palm based product
- We have recently started using an incinerator to burn waste such a paper from the towel dispensers & garden waste. The ash from this is used to spread on the gardens. It is also going to help us cut down on some of our paper/cardboard recycling costs. The idea was taken from Australia where they used to regularly burn down areas on parkland & forest to encourage further growth. Since they have stopped doing it in Australia, they have not had successes in re-vegetation of their parklands
- Although we have not yet got a formal lighting plan in place, we are mindful of this when installing new lights