[dropcap]R[/dropcap]educe, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover. These environmentally friendly initiatives are derived from the Four Rs Concept on which the Sandals Resorts Waste Management Plan is based. These are some of the practices that have contributed to Sandals Saint Lucia Resorts being awarded the highly coveted EarthCheck platinum level of certification, placing the resorts among a handful of tourism operators in the world being platinum certified.
Platinum certification is one of the highest levels of recognition awarded to companies within the sustainable travel and tourism industry, and this achievement places Sandals Saint Lucia resorts within the leading sustainable tourism operators worldwide.
General Manager Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa Michael James, in speaking about the award and in congratulating the team members, stated, “The resorts will continue to focus on implementing elements of the environmentally sustainable programme, including aspects of the Four Rs programme, in order to retain the coveted EarthCheck platinum level of certification. Our team members lead the way and continue to make us proud.”
Sandals Regency’s Environmental Health and Safety Manager Emerson Vitalis commented, “The first of three Sandals resorts introduced to Saint Lucia, we have continued to show unwavering commitment to the environment, local economy and host community for more than two decades. This is evidenced through our sustained environmentally friendly programme which utilizes key elements of the Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Recover elements of the Four Rs. The Four Rs programme provides an ecologically sound and environmentally friendly approach to minimizing and managing waste.”
In March 2017, a composting programme began from collaboration between the Landscaping and Environmental Health and Safety Departments at Sandals Regency. Under this arrangement, using the recycling and reuse components, the green waste derived from garden clippings (nitrogen) and shredded paper (carbon) from the process of natural decomposition have been used to aid in the process of waste disposal. Vitalis said, “At Sandals Regency La Toc Golf Resort and Spa, up to 250 pounds of usable organic soil conditioner has been generated since the three-month process of decomposition started. This product is utilized throughout landscaping and as potting soil for seedlings and cuttings.”
With three resorts on island, the quantity of linen which is taken off inventory as a result of damage is considerable. Said Vitalis, “Sandals Regency La Toc, serving as the hub for laundering from all three resorts, is strategically placed as the resort to distribute and/or donate discarded linen. These items are donated to various institutions throughout the community. On average a total of 400-600 pounds of linen are donated monthly.”
Over the last 15 years Sandals Regency La Toc has supported local pig farmers by donating food scraps to them daily from the operations. This
has facilitated their livelihoods and also minimized by tons the waste which would enter into landfill. On average 800 pounds of waste food is given weekly. “Reuse and recycle” are critical elements that are an essential part of the sustainable environmental programme employed by Sandals Resorts.
