September 23, 2009 - Hyatt Regency Atlanta Receives Environmental Recognition for Recycling Achievements

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 23, 2009

Contact: Kristen LeKander
Kristen@Lindberggrp.com
(703) 778 - 7644

Hyatt Regency Atlanta Receives Environmental Recognition for Recycling Achievements
GPI provides “Friends of Glass” Recognition for Glass Container Recycling Initiatives

Alexandria, September 23, 2009 - The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is proud to recognize Hyatt Regency Atlanta as a model hotel for its achievements in making significant and innovative efforts to promote or participate in glass container recycling for bottle-to-bottle use. Hyatt Regency Atlanta is among the seven “Friends of Glass” recognized by GPI during Recycle Glass Week, September 21 - 27, 2009.

“Hyatt has always had a commitment to responsible management and sustainability. We are proud of the amount of glass containers that make it to recycling facilities from our hotel and our staff for helping to make this happen,” said Randy Childers, Senior Director of Engineering, Hyatt Regency Atlanta. “We are thrilled to receive the Glass Packaging Institute’s Friends of Glass Recognition and be a leader in glass container recycling in the hospitality industry.”

Hyatt Regency Atlanta has been recycling since the 1990s, but they had stopped recycling glass and weren’t recycling any of their food residuals. With the help of the Atlanta Zero Waste Zone challenge, the hotel now has a source for food waste and is recycling glass bottles again. Since glass by weight equals over 80 percent of their containers, Hyatt Regency Atlanta will only work with recyclers that take their glass containers.

“We believe that partnerships with ‘Friends of Glass’ like Hyatt Regency Atlanta are imperative to facilitating better collection and recycling processes for glass bottle-to-bottle recycling to help save energy and our environment,” said Joseph Cattaneo, president of the Glass Packaging Institute. “The glass container industry thanks our 2009 ‘Friends of Glass’ for their work on behalf of glass container recycling and encourages other communities and organizations to follow their lead.”

About 60-75 percent by volume of containers is glass from the hotel’s bars, restaurants, and banquet service. Beer, wine, liquor, squat soda bottles and some premium waters are all packaged in glass. Hyatt Regency Atlanta uses collection bins behind the bar for beer bottles, and the liquor and wine bottles are returned to the loading dock where they are reconciled for alcohol control and then placed in 65-gallon totes for recycling.

Hyatt Regency Atlanta was also the first hotel to meet the Atlanta Zero Waste Zone (ZWZ) challenge.

This year, GPI recognizes “Friends of Glass” in five categories: Earth911.com (website); the Hyatt Regency Atlanta (hospitality industry); the City of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Natural Resource Department (community); Representative Jay Inslee (legislator); and “Best Friends of Glass,” including Sierra Nevada Brewing Company; McIlhenny Company, makers of TABASCO® Brand Products; and Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc.

Recycle Glass Week is an awareness event aimed to educate consumers about the environmental benefits of and to encourage participation in glass container recycling to help save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and facilitate the industry’s nationwide goal of using 50 percent recycled content in the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars by 2013. Doubling the U.S. glass container recycling rate (28 percent in 2007) would allow manufacturers to use 50 percent recycled glass to make new glass containers, saving enough energy to power 21,978 homes for one year and removing 181,550 tons of waste from landfills every month.

During Recycle Glass Week, GPI and its member companies are also holding nationwide glass recycling-related activities; providing consumers with information and opportunities to hold their own recycling events; and announcing the winners of its 2009 Clear Choice Awards.

Today, glass is the proven form of packaging for those who are looking for sustainability, purity, and recyclability. Glass is made from all-natural, sustainable raw materials and it can be recycled again and again without loss of quality or purity. Reuse of post-consumer recycled glass containers minimizes consumption of raw materials, lessens the industry’s demand for energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Find out more about Hyatt Regency Atlanta’s recycling initiatives at (URL for case study). For more information on upcoming Recycle Glass Week activities and events, please go to www.gpi.org.

The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is the trade association representing the North American glass container industry. Through GPI, glass container manufacturers speak with one voice to advocate industry standards, promote sound environmental policies and educate packaging professionals. www.gpi.org

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