Vail Wins National Forest Foundation Award

Vail Resorts in Vail Colorado operates one of therecycled, tree-free, biodegradable and organic
largest recycling programs of any ski resort in Northproducts throughout the lodge. It also maintains
America and their on-mountain recycling program isimpressive water efficiency, energy and conservation
the largest of its kind in North America.levels and recycling and composting programs.
Vail Resorts consists of five mountain resorts. Each* Keystone Composting at Keystone Ranch
resort receives monetary contributions of $1 fromRestaurant. Keystone's composting program began in
each skier per season pass, online lift ticket2002 and has grown immensely over the years. More
transaction and night spent at the resort in thethan 500 pounds of kitchen waste per week is being
Colorado and California locations.diverted from the landfill.
Since the program began, Vail has received moreCombined with efforts from the Keystone
than $550,000 in guest contributions. The NationalConference Center, food scraps and wood shavings
Forest Foundation (NFF) has matched thecreate the soil used in landscaping throughout the
contributions by more than $275,000. All funds areresort. Similar composting programs are being
used for projects that aim to restore, improve andestablished by other resorts.
protect Vail's neighboring National Forests.* Heavenly Waste Reduction, in partnership with
The effort put forth by Vail Resorts owners,California's El Dorado County, diverts about 482 tons
employees and skiers alike gives a glimpse into theof recyclable waste from landfills each year.
number of skiers who are concerned about theSurrounding communities are also encouraged to
environment. The preservation of National Forests iskeep yard wastes out of local landfills. An annual
a major factor in the success of not only Vailevent, Compost Your Combustibles, educates and
Resorts but other ski resorts worldwide. Theencourages citizens to participate in recycling and
environment skiers are helping protect is the samecomposting efforts.
environment that attracts them to Vail Resorts to* Vail Resorts and RockResorts. Recycling programs
begin with.are in place for all employees and guests of any Vail
Vail's five major resorts are some of the mostResorts or RockResorts.
visited and most family friendly resorts in NorthThey promote water conservation to guests by
America.promoting the reuse of towels and linens for
Families can learn very valuable lessons about wildlifemulti-night stays.
preservation, recycling and environmental issues.Restaurants on the resorts use biodegradable,
Currently, Vail's recycling program recycles about 70compostable and recycled food and beverage
percent of on-mountain waste. The amount of wastecontainers and flatware. The resorts recycle
recycled equals nearly one pound per guest, andbeverage and food containers and paper items used
about 100 tons of material per month are recycledin all resort operations.
during an average ski season.All areas of the resorts use environment-friendly
Some of the most notably environment friendly partscleaning products that are not only safer for the
of the resorts are:environment, but for guests and employees as well.
* Beaver Creek's Spruce Saddle Lodge. The lodge isResorts worldwide are becoming more
the first ski resort restaurant to become a Certifiedenvironmentally aware and passing their knowledge
Green Restaurant by the Green Restauranton to their guests. With the help of their guests,
Association. The GRA is a national non-profitthey are able to conserve more water and recycle
organization that dedicates its time to settingand compost more waste in a broader range of
sustainable environmental standards within theareas of resort operations.
restaurant industry.The efforts put forth by these resorts and others
Spruce Saddle Lodge is one of the first resortaround the world help protect the environment and
restaurants to be recognized by the GRA for multiplewildlife that attracts their visitors.
environmental breakthroughs. The restaurant uses