Vermicomposting saves 38 tonnes of wet waste from being disposed of at landfill monthly

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A HOTEL in Kuala Lumpur has adopted a vermicomposting system to play a more significant and effective role in the management of solid waste disposal.

The Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur’s vermicomposting project, which is spearheaded by its Corporate Social Responsibility Team that is led by vice-president/general manager Lothar Nessmann and comprises committee members from various departments, is in line with its commitment to ensuring a global sustainable development in the next millennium.

The process involves the use of earthworms to break down wet waste, such as food scraps, into organic fertiliser, in contrast to the traditional method of disposing of waste into landfills, which ultimately causes clogging, thereby increasing carbon dioxide emission, decreasing the landfill’s lifespan, and causing other environmental issues.

The eco-friendly organic fertiliser produced by the earthworms is used for the beautification of the hotel’s gardens and landscape.

Green initiative: Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts corporate social responsibility and sustainability director Patricia Isabel Gallardo, Nessmann (third from left), hotel manager Marcel van Mierlo (right, in suit) and team with the eco-friendly organic fertiliser produced from vermicomposting process

All hotel employees adopt a set of Best Practices, such as the three ‘R’ (recycle, reuse and reduce) approach, in their daily operations in the course of ensuring the vermicomposting process is carried out successfully.

These steps include ensuring daily waste, such as office paper, batteries, plastic, bottles and food waste, are correctly placed into the dry and wet bins respectively. The hotel’s chief steward, who is also in charge of the environment, safety and health (ESH) (head of waste management) then ensures the dry waste is packed for recycling and the wet waste is collected for vermicomposting.

The hotel saves at least 38 tonnes of wet waste from being disposed of at the landfill every month through this green initiative.

As an environment-friendly establishment, Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur was the first hotel in South-East Asia to be awarded three major certifications — ISO14001: Environmental Management System; OHSAS18000: Occupational Health and Safety Management System; and Hazard Critical Control Point (HACCP) by international accreditation body Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance, Britain in 2006.

It was one of only five Malaysian hotels that received the Asean Green Hotel Award 2008 and these recognitions have further served to increase the hotel’s commitment and effort in working towards a sustainable future that benefits guests, employees and the community at large.