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I was recently in Las Vegas. Even though it was technically vacation, I couldn’t help but view the city through my “green microscopic” goggles. As I walked from casino to casino in the city of excess, I noticed that there were no recycling bins. I was shocked!

However, when I returned home, I did my due diligence and researched recycling within the hospitality industry in Las Vegas and was surprised at what I found out.

According to the Nevada Environmental Protection Agency, the hotel recycling happens internally, behind the scenes without patrons even being aware. Many hospitality organizations are contracting with waste management companies to sort and recycle on a daily basis.

In my research, I also discovered that Planet Hollywood, located in the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace, has one of the most comprehensive restaurant recycling programs in Las Vegas. And it has been in place since 1994!

Planet Hollywood began recycling because food was over 84 percent of the its overall waste. To address the situation, management installed a separate garbage compactor on the restaurant’s receiving dock. The ability to separately control and monitor its own garbage has been integral to the success of Planet Hollywood’s recycling program.

After feeling better about recycling in the Las Vegas hospitality industry, I looked at the overall recycling of Las Vegas and according to a news report from Fox 5 Vegas on August 24, 2009, as a whole the city is ranked second to last.

However, looking at the glass half full and a 2008 study done by SustainLane, Las Vegas is ranked seventh in the nation for Energy and Climate Change policy. So clearly measures are being taken on behalf of the city and state of Nevada after all.

Categories: Event Writeups, Green, Marlaina Quintana, recycling