Eco-Hostels

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This page contains some ideas for making hostels more environmentally friendly. If you have ideas or tips, click the "edit" tab at the top of the page to make changes.

Contents

Making Hostels Environmentally Friendly

See also the UK's Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) criteria and the YHA India charter, as well as NorCalhostels.org for more ideas.

Recycling

Over 70% of our communal garbage is recyclable. Encouraging your guests using selective bins not only eco-friendly but saves you money as well. The less garbage you have, the less you have to pay for it's removal.(Free selective stations vs. paid garbage tax)

You can separate the following garbage very easily:

  • Paper

Organic material but recycling paper saves forests.

  • Plastic

This is the biggest amount of garbage as the most used packing/storing material. If dumped, it takes over 100,000 years to dissolve. Easily recyclable.

  • Glass (colored/white)

Same as plastic, easily recyclable but takes long time to dissolve.

  • Organic

If possible to process it by yourself, composted organic garbage could be a perfect costless fertilizer.

  • Toxic waste

Batteries, medicines, electronics, other dangerous materials which could poison the nature if dumped.

  • Uncategorized

This is the real garbage, which is none of above. Usually too complicated to select as it contains plenty different materials. This is the least of your communal garbage.

Public Transportation

  • encouraging and facilitating the use of public transportation

Furniture

  • furniture and fittings made entirely from recycled materials

Composting

  • composting food scraps
  • add ideas and tips for how to compost

Toilets

Low Flush Toilets

Composting Toilets

Recycled Toilet Paper

  • If possible, choose recycled post-consumer waste toilet paper

Faucets

A hostel water purifier can reduce the guests' use of environmentally damaging plastic water bottles.
  • water saving faucets and showerheads
  • rainwater harvesting system to supply water to toilets
  • Greywater system

Water-saving faucets (timed shut-off) don't help if the faucet is constantly leaking.

This timed faucet is pouring out water even when turned off.

Paper Usage

  • post-consumer recycled paper for the office and front desk
  • reduce printouts from the computer
  • use scrap paper when possible by reusing paper before throwing it away

Reduction of Chemical Usage

Dish soap in a spray bottle to reduce usage.
  • use non-toxic cleaning chemicals
  • bug prevention instead of pest control (e.g., no food scraps in the rooms to attract cockroaches)
  • consider putting dish soap in a spray bottle to reduce soap usage.

See also this list of products for hotels said to be eco-friendly: http://www.greenhotels.com/appvvend.php

Electricity Conservation

Alternative Energy

Solar Power

Wind Power

Geothermal Power

Food & Water Consumption

  • The forwarding of all unused non-perishable food to charities or food banks
  • encouraging guests to fill their water bottles at the tap instead of buying a lot of plastic water bottles (which are often just tap water)

Organic Farms

  • organic farm on property

Eco Friendly Construction

  • recycled glass windows
  • doormats made out of recycled tires

Green Hostels

Related Links:

Here are some discussion threads about green hostels from the Hostel forum:

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