- Carry bottled water with you. Refill as needed.
- Reduce fast food waste whenever possible.
- Pack a few plastic bags. They come in handy for saving half-eaten treats, used hotel bar soaps, keeping salt and pepper packets dry in the cooler, and many other uses.
- Avoid styrofoam. Carry your own cup.
- Avoid room service and carryout.
- When offered individual packages of condiments, take only what you'll use.
- If you commonly take home leftovers from restaurant meals, carry a container, a square of aluminum foil or waxpaper with you. You'll be responsible for putting less styrofoam into the waste stream.
- Take only the brochures or maps necessary. Return others to the brochure stand.
- Don't buy endangered species products such as tortoise shell, ivory, animal skins or feathers. Don't purchase star fish or turtle-shell related souvenirs or any creature that may have been put to death for the sake of a gift shop sale. These animals may have been killed specifically for tourist trade. Sea shells are questionable. The U. S. Customs office offers a list of items which cannot be imported or brought into the country.
- Make a pledge to yourself not to maim or kill any living creature other than enemy or pest insects. Educate yourself as to which are "beneficials" and which are truly "pests."
- Use binoculars and cameras to "hunt" animals.
- Take only photographs. Do not take "souvenirs" from natural areas, historical areas or hotels.
- Leave only footprints. Take everything out that you brought with you. No graffiti, no litter.
- Support conservation programs.
- Pick up at least one piece of litter every day-especially at national tourist locations which are vulnerable to huge tourist populations.
- Take photos with a regular camera. Disposable cameras are very wasteful and expensive. If possible use a digital camera.
- Buy rolls of film with 36 shots rather than 12 or 24. Packaging waste is reduced, and you'll save about 40%*.
- Write legibly on your film package. Kodak discards 400,000 rolls of film annually because the return address is illegible.*
- Expensive cosmetic bags are unnecessary and often do not prevent or control spills. Use zippable plastic bags for cosmetics. Separate bath needs and makeup needs.
- Rather than buying small size toothpaste tubes, squeeze some toothpaste into a clean contact lens case or contact lens cleaning capsule. These are also handy for carrying salves or pills. Be sure to mark appropriately.
Cast a Vote for the Environment as You Travel
Managers of all businesses react and respond to requests of guests, customers and clients who voice their concerns. So, when you write a note or speak directly to management regarding our environment, you are casting a vote. You can write a note to the general manager of the hotel, to the captain of the airplane and to the manager of a tour company or cruise line with compliments or comments regarding their green program. Thank them for their green program if they have one. Or, ask why they don't have a green program. As a paying customer, it is important that you let them know that you want them to lower water and energy usage and reduce solid waste-and that you want to participate.
"Encourage businesses to think as you do by choosing where to spend your travel dollars. Spend your dollars with travel businesses that are interested in protecting the beautiful destinations we all love to visit", suggests President Patricia Griffin.
Hotels and airlines which have an environmental agenda deserve your patronization. Book your guestrooms and meeting rooms with hotels that are clearly interested in protecting our environment, and let management know that's why you've chosen their hotel. "Green" Hotels Association® member hotels are encouraged to implement water-saving measures, execute energy-saving techniques and reduce solid waste. Rather than putting all these measures into effect "behind the doors", GHA encourages all lodging accommodations to get guests and clients involved. Hotels can offer towel and sheet-changing options, soap and shampoo dispensers, guestroom recycling baskets and reduced food-related waste. Almost all guests realize that we need to help protect our favorite destinations. Those guests are more than willing to participate in a hotel's green program. Choose "green" hotels by calling or faxing "Green" Hotels Association® for a list of members. Or, check out GHA's Internet site-www.greenhotels.com.
The Earth Thanks You
Give yourself a pat on the back for doing all you can to help protect the beautiful destinations we all love to visit and Mother Earth!
More Green Tips
Finding Green Hotels in the Southwest
* ULS Report, Use Less Stuff, P. O. Box 130116, Ann Arbor, MI 48113
Material (c) 2003 "Green" Hotels Association®
