Composting at Stowe Mountain Lodge

While Stowe Mountain Lodge’s composting program may have started just a few months ago, Stowe Mountain Resort’s commitment to the environment has been in place for many years. The development and adoption of the SMR 2000 Community Master Plan was based on the objective to both reinvigorate and establish a sustainable future for the resort.

The opening of the first phase of Stowe Mountain Lodge created a tangible opportunity to implement to expand on the resort’s goal of increased waste reduction. A resort-wide composting committee was established in cooperation with the Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District, utilizing the guidelines of Destination Earth, an environmental sustainability program created by Destination Hotels & Resorts, the management company for Stowe Mountain Lodge.

Composting organic matter has many environmental, social and economic benefits. Environmental benefits include waste diversion from landfills and fewer greenhouse gas emissions. Closing the recycling loop by reusing composted food waste also provides benefits of erosion control, turf remediation, landscaping, reforestation, habitat revitalization, disease control, bioremediation, pollution prevention, and community based nutrient management; all of these contributing to a cleaner and safer environment.

Community involvement, public and employee education, positive public relations, and a cleaner and safer community left behind for future generations are just a few of the social benefits of composting. We are already seeing economic benefits from our program, including asset reallocation, generated revenue from marketing/public relations efforts, and cost savings. It certainly costs a lot less to compost a ton of organic matter than it does to place it in the dumpster!

As of January 5, 2009, Stowe Mountain Lodge has composted 204,500 lbs. of organic matter, and recycled over 40,000 pounds of other recyclables, and through the hotel’s recycling and composting efforts, the Destination Earth team has produced a landfill diversion rate of 84.5%, as compared to the statewide average of just over 30%. This Data was collected from May through December of 2008. Financially this equates to a net savings of over $ 8,600, compared to disposal as municipal solid waste.

The materials that are composted come from Solstice restaurant, Hourglass bar, Schuss gourmet shop, Aqua pool bar and the Lodge’s associate dining area, and include fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, and compostable cups, plates, napkins and utensils. In addition, all of the hotel’s cut flower displays, yard materials, and grass clippings are composted.

Composting is made easy for employees by placing bins throughout the kitchens, so that all pre-consumer and post consumer food materials can be easily gathered and separated from the trash. The associate dining area also has a compost bin which captures post-consumer food material during breakfast, lunch, and dinner breaks. The bins are emptied into 55 gallon drums, and then collected by Sanctuary Farms in Morrisville, Vermont.

Once the organic matter leaves the Lodge, a representative from the farm monitors it as it goes through three stages. The initial stage is the Mesophillic Stage, where microbes and organisms begin to break down material and the temperature starts to climb. The second phase is the Thermophillic Stage where the material reaches its highest temperature. The final phase is the Curing Phase, where the material decreases in temperature and stabilizes. The material is then turned and screened until the finished product is ready to be put back into the earth.

This final stage is perhaps the most important benefit of composting, as it leads to “community-based nutrient management.” Community-based nutrient management is the practice of generating organic material and utilizing this asset to achieve nutrient needs in the soil. By composting the organic matter generated and then returning it to the grounds, Stowe Mountain Lodge closes the loop and returns nutrients generated here back to the land. The Destination Earth team at Stowe Mountain Lodge plans to bring 60 yards of farm-crafted compost back to the resort in the spring and add it to the hotel’s landscape.

Other Vermont hotels that are composting organics include the Trapp Family Lodge, Basin Harbor Club and most recently the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center in Burlington, in addition to several inns and B&B’s throughout the state.

Destination Earth

Stowe Mountain Lodge’s Denver-based management company, Destination Hotels & Resorts (DH&R), created the "Destination Earth" program in early 2008. A taskforce comprised of leaders throughout the organization ensures that all departments and associates of DH&R are personally involved in and committed to the program. DH&R has already put in place the following initiatives which each of the company’s 30-plus properties have made a commitment to pursuing:

• Establishment of a "green team" at each Destination property nationwide, to adopt and implement earth-friendly practices in our businesses and to become better stewards of the natural resources that we utilize, and to monitor the effectiveness of these practices.
• Sourcing of environmentally sensitive products and services locally, and purchasing organic, environmentally friendly/responsible and recycled supplies whenever possible.
• Purchasing fresh and sustainable foods, locally grown whenever possible.
• Creating partnerships with other organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to preserving the environment.
• Leading associates to apply eco-friendly practices in their daily operations.
• Utilizing environmentally-responsible building materials and strategies for new properties and renovations to reduce environmental impact.
• Retrofitting existing properties with energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, as well as water-saving devices.
• Implementing tools that allow each property to continually measure their progress and support their commitment to preserving the environment through the Destination Earth program.

Audubon International Recognition

Spruce Peak at Stowe, the real estate component of the Stowe Mountain Resort Master Plan, has been recognized by Audubon International under their nationwide Sustainable Communities program. Spruce Peak at Stowe has been praised by Audubon International for such sustainable development practices as energy efficiency, innovative stormwater collection and treatment, compact design and the use of native landscaping.

The Stowe Mountain Golf Club course has received Signature Sanctuary Certification from Audubon International, the highest level of sustainability achievable through Audubon International, and is one of only 63 golf courses in the world to have met these extremely high standards. This certification ensures that the golf course has been designed, constructed, and managed with a very comprehensive approach to environmental protection.

Stowe Mountain Lodge has also received specific designation through Audubon International, achieving a four out of five leaf rating in the organization’s Green Leaf Eco-Rating Program for Hotels. In addition, the property is also designated a Green Hotel by the Vermont Green Hotel program. This program is a partnership between The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources and The Vermont Small Business Development Center, assisting and recognizing environmentally responsible hotels throughout Vermont.

Moving forward, Stowe Mountain Resort plans to compost all organic material generated throughout the entire development. The new Spruce Camp Base Lodge and the Stowe Mountain Golf Club cottage have joined the composting effort. Being leaders in this movement exemplifies Stowe Mountain Resort’s unrelenting commitment to environmental stewardship.