Cinnamon Grand Associates wise up on waste

Friday, 21 March 2014 04:15 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Did you know that recycling one aluminium can could produce enough energy to keep the TV on for two hours or the computer running for three hours? Recycling one tonne of paper can save up to 17 trees or 4,100 kwh of electricity? Recycling one ton of plastic can save one to two thousand gallons of gas? Cinnamon Grand’s associates found this out, amongst other interesting facts at a seminar on waste management, organised by the hotel’s Marketing Communications and Sustainability Department. Speakers from the National Cleaner Production Centre, Sri Lanka, elaborated the importance of managing waste efficiently and effectively while detailing the findings specific to Cinnamon Grand at a recently held waste audit. The seminar was part of the hotel’s ‘Green Forum,’ an interactive platform, organised by the Sustainability Division together with the Green Team, aimed at inculcating a green mind set among associates through an ongoing series of awareness and educational initiatives which enable learning, understating and action.

Sena Peiris, Director of the National Cleaner Production Centre, Sri Lanka informed that out of the estimated 7.2 billion people who inhabit earth, in addition to all the other species we share the planet with, scarcity of resources remains a real problem. He said that 30,000 people die of starvation every day, out of which 50% of that figure were under five years of age. In this light, he stressed that ‘intelligent consumption’ is key in preserving and managing resources. He urged the audience to make conscious choices when consuming and ensure that all decisions are smart and sustainable while refraining from making emotional consumption choices, which usually leads to waste. Research cited pointed out that 60% to 80% of garbage used can be recycled and Peiris stated that every time he sees a garbage truck pass him by, he perceives beyond the garbage to the true monetary value it possesses. He further distinguished between wet and dry waste and the difference between plastic and polythene, while emphasising the importance of proper disposal of waste. In fact, waste segregation is vitally important in waste management. You can start with having separate bins to collect different types of waste such as biodegradable waste which decomposes by itself and can be used for compost (vegetable, fruits, garden waste, etc.), special waste, which can be hazardous and needs to be binned carefully (thinners and turpentine, hospital waste, etc.) and recyclable/residual waste which can be recycled (paper, bottles, aluminium cans, etc.) Nisansala Ranundeniya and Uthpala Sankalpani, Resource Efficient Cleaner Production Technologists from the National Cleaner Production

Centre, Sri Lanka commended the Cinnamon Grand for successful segregation of garbage as well as the efforts in collecting e-waste for recycling. They encouraged associates to be conscious of intelligent waste management, even during the busy seasons, so as to safeguard and uphold Cinnamon Grand’s dedication to being an environmentally friendly, sustainable hotel. Meanwhile, Cinnamon Grand’s Manager of Health, Safety and Compliance and member of the hotel’s Green Team, Rajitha Amarasinghe reiterated that we should all work together in a united effort in minimising and managing waste, so as to reduce, reuse and recycle towards a greener tomorrow. He added that the study done by the National Cleaner Production Centre will help the hotel’s staff to understand current waste management practices as well as how to improve on them.