Page 60 - CIJ Aug 2024 - Digital Edition

DIFFERENT STROKES

HOUSEKEEPING
Linen Management & Recycling

Currently, the hospitality industry generates more than 100,000kg of linen waste each
year. This discard rate is especially high as the criteria is more based on the whiteness

of the linen rather than its life cycle. Hotels are taking initiatives, however, much of
these discards are improperly disposed. What could be all those innovative ways to
recycle linen discards and transform them for reuse or even upcycle them? ponders
Keerthana Sundar, Special Correspondent, Clean India Journal.

otels and resorts scores for having an effective online survey on the things that can
require to have clean recycling/disposal program in be recycled and the best alternatives
sheets and towels for place. to enhance sustainability and
hygiene purposes. • Improved marketing: There is a reusability in hotels.
HA single stain or significant increase in the number More than 38% of the participants
tattered towel can have disastrous of travellers willing to spend on opted for using smaller bottles for
consequences on the reputation sustainable brands and prefer shampoos.
of hotels. Much of such discarded booking at establishments that are
linen contribute to textile waste. eco-conscious. About 29% agreed to having glass
Engaging a robust textile recycling water bottles in rooms instead of the
program, including dying and deep While having a general chat regular recyclable plastic bottles.
cleaning, can extend the lives of across hotels and hospitals on the There is much disparity when it
most discarded textiles and prevent sustainable management of discarded comes to recycling linen. About
their early dumping. The benefits of linen, Sheera Tamang, Country 29% believed that linen and towels
engaging in such a program include: Executive Housekeeper at Six Senses provided in hotel rooms should
• Less nuisance: Placing collection Bhutan, shared practices followed be recycled. However, a meagre
bins at designated areas for hotel at her hotel to tackle the discarded 5% relegated to recycling used
staff to drop off soiled linen, cloth linen conundrum. “We make liners mattresses.
napkins, unwanted hotel sheets, for our bamboo linen baskets and use While the survey is encouraging
towels, cloth napkins, and other these baskets throughout the property as hotels are warming up to adopting
textiles provides a hassle-free instead of trolleys. Amenity liners sustainable products and supporting
disposal method. A designated for guest rooms and cleaning rags are recycling initiatives, there is a long
recycling vendor can pick them other ways to utilise discarded linen. way ahead before we can see a
up and take care of the discarded The discarded linen is also made use change in practices.
items efficiently. of in our TNT (Tour and Transport) Hope there is an urgency placed
• Detailed data: With the rising linen to save cost from purchasing to enforce sustainable practices and
importance of meeting ESG goals, new linen for TNT accommodation.” combat the burgeoning rate of waste
a robust recycling program can Going deeper on this subject, Clean accumulation and its subsequent
help determine the amount of India Journal decided to launch an harm to our environment.
discarded textile waste collected
and where it subsequently landed
up.
• Lesser fines and tax incentives:
The day is not far where stringent
government regulations and
fines may be levied for dumping
textile waste. Tax incentives will
be offered by the government in
the near future to improve ESG CIJ

AUGUST 2024•Clean India Journal
60 www.cleanindiajournal.com