Four Seasons Hotel Composting Partnership
An Effective Practice
Description
The Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia collaborates with Two Particular Acres farm to compost all food scraps. The hotel kitchen is outfitted with composting bins at each station to collect all organic discards including food scraps, paper, cardboard, biodegradable packaging, napkins, and dishware. The bins are transported to the Two Particular Acres farm in a truck that runs on biodiesel made from the hotel's used cooking oils. At the farm, the scraps are used to make compost, which the hotel then purchases for its gardens and landscapes. This closed-loop system is cost-effective for both parties.
Goal / Mission
The goal of the Four Seasons Hotel Composting Partnership is to reduce the hotel's waste by recycling kitchen scraps with a local composter.
Results / Accomplishments
Each year, the Four Seasons keeps the equivalent of 52 metric tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, the same as to decreasing the annual consumption of oil by 110 barrels. The composting program saves the hotel $4,800 annual, a 30 percent savings over throwing away food scraps. Composting food waste costs just under $0.04 per pound, versus $0.06 per pound to send the waste to the landfill. In total, the hotel has decreased its landfill waste by 239 tons per year, a 23 percent reduction.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, Two Particular Acres farm
Primary Contact
Marvin Dixon, Director of Engineering
Four Seasons Hotel
1 Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 963-1500
http://www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia/
Four Seasons Hotel
1 Logan Square
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 963-1500
http://www.fourseasons.com/philadelphia/
Topics
Environmental Health / Toxins & Contaminants
Organization(s)
Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, Two Particular Acres farm
Source
Environmental Protection Agency
Date of publication
2010
Date of implementation
2007
Location
Philadelphia, PA
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