Waste: Reducing waste is one of our primary concerns and we have taken many innovative steps to

reduce this in all areas of the hotel:

 ACM Waste Management on an online tracking system: 100% of all waste from the
hotel is recycled by ACM who recycle segregated waste so 0% waste goes to landfill.
Tracking system determines how much food, glass, electrical and dry mix recyclable is
being wasted and how this can be reduced. Food waste is also collected by ACM. A waste
audit is conducted annually with ACM who asses the flow of waste and how it is
segregated. They also advise if there have been any changes to these processes.
 Winnow System: an innovative fully automated system to reduce food wastage in
the kitchen by 50%
 Reduction of paper wastage: moving towards paperless activities such as the
Marriott apps for mobile devices. This includes mobile check-in/out apps and red coat
direct apps for meetings. Thermos printers are used to reduce print size reducing the size
of paper used
 Recycle toners for all hotel printers
 Reusable food service items such as chinaware, cutlery, cloth table napkins and
glassware.
 Recycling soap and toiletries: First hotel in Europe working with Clean the World
organisation.
 VITO cooking oil recycling machine installed to recycle used oil from deep pan
fryers. Filters used cooking oil to reduce annual oil usage and labour costs.
 Waste cooking oil is recycled into fuel by the company 3663, collect every 100
litres. Becoming more seldom due to recycling by VITO.
GH: Do you have any community outreach programmes and if so, can you describe them for us?
RV: We take many innovative approaches to support the local community including a recent
partnership with the global leader in soap recycling, Clean the World. We and are the first hotel in
Europe to partner with them. Soaps and toiletries are re-processed by the organisation into re-
sanitised soap bars and toiletries and then distributed to shelters in local areas. This has had a
positive impact on guests and community.

LHR Marriott collecting for Clean the World

The hotel took part in an important conservation project with Hillingdon Council’s Green Spaces to
help plants and wildlife flourish.  600 meters of Himalayan Balsam was cleared from Yeading Brook in
Ruislip.  The team was joined by Mayor of Hillingdon.
 The hotel works closely with WWF’s annual event ‘Earth Hour’ for awareness of climate change. 
Lights are turned off for an hour and a ‘glow show’ is put on for the local community. WWF value our
contribution, sending a film crew to cover the event and feature us on their website.
We have also started work with Green Corridor, London's leading learning organisation using
horticultural based training to unlock potential in young people. The charity links young people with the
environments around them, engaging them in volunteering programmes.
We’re also fundraising for the Princes’ Trust via You Eat, We Give which adds £1 to the bill in
restaurants. We’re also undertaking a ‘London to Rio’ sponsored walk and bike ride inspired by the
Olympic games in Brazil this year.
We are working with Project Search, providing a year round on-property training with teachers and
coaches for 12 young people with learning disabilities. We will be the first Marriott hotel to offer the
programme in the UK.
We also provide:

 Two Electric Car Charging Stations

 Journey Planner
 Responsible Visitor Charter
 UK South Marriott Green Champions Meeting
 Harlington Hospice’s garden maintenance
GH: What has been the biggest surprise on your sustainability journey?
RV: We have been pleasantly surprised that our initiatives have captured everyone’s heart. Within the
team there’s a lot of willingness to improve. And now as we are seen as a hotel who like to test new
initiatives it is nice to meet up with suppliers of sustainable products / machines who like to use us as
a pilot.
GH: What has been the biggest challenge?
RV: As the investment can be expensive and the benefits sometimes only show in the long term,
justifying the need for specific equipment or taking up certain projects can bring up challenges.
However, thorough research has meant that we are heading in the right direction with all our projects.
GH: How have guests and / or business partners reacted to your sustainability programmes?
RV: When we tour our hotel with conference organisers we always share our vision and passion for
our sustainability initiatives, and of course show our roof-top greenhouse with a tremendous view on
the airport; a real gem, which creates a real bond with them.
GH: Is there a stand-out aspect to your sustainability that is unusual or eye-catching or different from
other hotels?
RV: Our ‘Glow Show’ event for WWF Earth Hour. We create awareness of climate to our guests,
hotel teams and local community by putting on a lively show in the lobby. Energetic hotel staff adorn
themselves in multi-coloured glow lights, brightening up the darkness as they dance with hotel guests
and visitors.  For an hour the lobby of the London Heathrow Marriott is transformed into a huge dance
floor, to display a fantastic array of glowing colours.  We have supported Earth Hour for many years by
turning off the lights in all public areas for an hour and asking our guests to do the same in the
bedrooms.  The ‘Glow Show’ is our way of raising awareness of the effects of climate change to our
local community and having fun at the same time.