7 Hot Tips for Recycling at Winter Resorts

As ski resorts are busy adjusting to climate change like the rest of us, they’re reckoning with another challenge: staying relevant. Skiing, snowboarding, and tubing (and the growing list of other snow sports) are highly niche aspects of the hospitality industry. Their target market? Adults ages 18-34. Millennials and Gen Z’ers share two defining characteristics: they don’t have a thick wallet, but they do have a big environmental conscience, and they use it when deciding where to spend their money.

Sustainable Travel International pegs tourism at 8% in terms of global GHG emitted. Winter destinations that rely on engineered snow, slope grooming in an alpine setting are unfortunately at the top of the carbon footprint ledger. Water and fossil fuel use along with deforestation figure largely in their success.

You may not be able to reduce your footprint in some places, but you can compensate for it by cutting where you can. To reduce waste, here’s a checklist of smart waste reduction initiatives for winter resorts and how to get them snowballing.

#1 Waste inventory

Before you attempt to cut your waste stream, be sure you know what’s in it. Waste audits can be done in-house, don’t require much in terms of time, and help ground managers and buyers understand the problem before trying to fix it. Be sure to look at what’s going on (inside the trash cans) at lift lines, cafes, restaurants, guest quarters, and gear shops. Don’t just focus on what’s in the trash bins, take note of what’s being sold at these points, and identify which items will likely be discarded elsewhere.

#2 Grab a partner

Your municipal or local government probably has several specialists who can guide you in examining your waste stream and finding professional recycling firms who will not only collect; they’ll process and transport your recycled waste stream to its future home. Get to know them and begin contacting resources in the waste field; waste collection is the first step, but you’ll want to make sure your recycled stream has a long-term outlet (or it’ll end up in the landfill after all).

#3 Decentralized recycling containers for one-stop collection

A single recycling location or two won’t cut it. You’ll want to deploy recycling receptacles wherever guests now throw their trash. Give recycling a chance by having a ratio of at least 1:1 – that’s one recycling container of equal size to its trash sibling. Recycling rates will increase when pairing trash and recycling receptacles. But if you can only swing a few recycling centers at the resort’s lodge, for now, make sure they always have a trash receptacle next to them – to keep recycling contamination low.

#4 Visibility 100%  

Successful recycling programs function best when bins are clearly marked and color-coded throughout your facility.

#5 A picture’s worth a thousand words

Well-marked and weather-appropriate, your new recycling system will be more user-friendly if you add graphics to your signage.  For example, if you have an outlet for mixed paper, a label picturing your trail map, lift tickets, and other papers will eliminate questions or confusion.

#6 Map it

Be sure to mark recycling stations on your venue’s trail maps (online and hard copy) so guests are aware you’re doing your part and where they can do theirs.

#7 Give it some time

After you’ve given your new program a full season, take stock of how your waste stream has changed by circling back for another audit. Waste dumpsters should be filling up less, and recyclables will be increasing. With that success comes the challenge of right-sizing your disposal contracts and addressing any contamination patterns. Recycling doesn’t need to cost less to be worth it – but your new resort waste profile will usually save money in the long run.

As you progress, communicate often with the resort staff to let them know what you’re doing and ask for input and help. Late winter/early spring are the perfect time for a waste audit and necessary planning to get ready for next winter. Once you’re on track, tell customers all that you’re doing and how they can help. Let us know how we can help, too.