Outrigger Enterprises Group has received the "Green Leader Award" from Reynolds Recycling for its leadership in sustainability and recycling in Hawaii. Since 2006, the hotel owner and operator has diverted more than 48,000 pounds of trash from Honolulu’s landfill by recovering more than 1 million beverage containers from guestrooms.
"With over 4,000 guest rooms in Waikiki, we realized that our combined efforts could make a significant impact in keeping Hawaii green," says David Carey, president and CEO of Outrigger Enterprises Group. "Hawaii’s beauty rests heavily on our pristine environment and as ambassadors for the tourism industry, it is our responsibility to not only maintain, but to improve our Hawaii home for future generations to enjoy."
Here are some facts and figures about Outrigger’s recycling initiatives:
• 14,595 pounds—the amount of aluminum recycled since 2006. This has saved 109,465 kilowatts of electricity, conserved 11,530 gallons of gas, and if stacked end to end, could wrap around Kapiolani Park 18 times.
• 36,317 pounds—the amount of plastic recycled since 2006. This has saved over 69 barrels of petroleum, preserved 135 cubic yards of landfill space, and if stacked end to end, could go up and down Diamond Head over 54 times.
• Half a million—the number of containers that Outrigger Enterprises Group is projected to recycle in 2009 alone. Compared to 2008, the hotel properties will more than double the number of recyclables they remove from the waste stream in 2009.
• Outrigger Enterprises Group is one of Reynolds Recycling’s most committed participants in its Business Sponsorship Program; this means that a portion of the recycling funds raised are designated to local charities.
