Emory Conference Center Recycles

Already one of the most environmentally responsible conference centers and hotels in the Southeast, the Emory Conference Center Hotel (ECCH) is now the only property in Georgia implementing the single stream recycling system.

Single stream recycling enables ECCH employees and guests to mix recyclable paper, plastic and glass in one centralized bin, resulting in the hotel recycling more than 41 tons each year. Before adopting the program, items had to be sorted into seven different bins. The sorting is now done at an off-site processing center after the mixed recyclables are collected from special containers on the ECCH loading dock.

“It’s easy for our employees to recycle because they don’t have to worry about separating any of the items,” says Kathryn Johnson, general manager. “And the really great thing is that the single stream takes all plastics, not just one and two. It also takes all paper products including mixed, white, coated, etc.”

Guests are also encouraged to participate. Recycling information is posted in every hotel room and recycling bins are located on each floor and in all meeting rooms.

Inspired by the architectural design of Frank Lloyd Wright, the ECCH is the only Green Seal-certified hotel in the state, meeting rigorous environmental leadership standards for waste minimization, water and energy efficiency, hazardous substances handling, and environmentally responsible purchasing.

A major conference center expansion that began in March 2008 will be certified LEED Silver by the U.S. Building Council, while the existing building will be working toward earning LEED EB certification, making ECCH the only hotel in Atlanta LEED certified.

The ECCH is a member of the Green Hotels Association, P2AD, and the Georgia Restaurant Association Local Sustainable Green Round Table.

The hotel is located at 1615 Clifton Road. www.emoryconferencecenter.com.