Saturday, December 06, 2008

Bonaire Continues to Preserve the Environment Through Eco-Friendly Programs

STINAPA officially launched their waste reduction campaign earlier this year at “A Taste of Bonaire”, (see prior story by clicking here) during International Year of the Reef Week. The waste reduction campaign encourages visitors to take home their used batteries instead of disposing of them in Bonaire’s landfill, and also encourages visitors to fill reusable water bottles with tap water instead of purchasing bottled water and disposing of the empty plastic bottles in Bonaire’s landfill.

Resulting from the launch of STINAPA’s campaign, hotels and venues in Bonaire have been taking eco-initiatives to encourage their guests to help keep the island pristine. Below are some of the programs the stakeholders have implemented to keep an eco-friendly environment.

Sand Dollar Condominium Resort
Sand Dollar is supporting Selibon, the garbage management company on the island, in separation of glass, by having special yellow containers for glass at all of their garbage collecting spots on the property. The property removed bottled water from their grocery stocking list, and are advising guests to bring their own recyclable bottle. The front desk is also collecting batteries and with the help of the guests and the owner they are sending the batteries to the US for recycling.

Captain Don’s Habitat
Captain Don’s Habitat announced they are now providing each guest with a reusable water bottle made from recycled plastic and that the resort, along with Rum Runners Restaurant, will no longer sell bottled water.

Ocean Adventures
For eight years, Ocean Adventures has been encouraging their guests to use rechargeable batteries for cameras and dive lights. For the guests that use regular batteries, they collect and store the batteries in a special box and ship the trash to Germany. Ocean Adventures also promotes drinking tap water instead of bottled water to their guests in their welcoming briefing.

Bonaire Tours and Vacations
During Bonaire Tour and Vacations briefings to their guests, they inform their guests that the water on Bonaire is excellent drinking water and recommend they drink tap water, instead of bottled water. They also inform guests that an air conditioner unit cools a room within 10 minutes and there is no need to leave air conditioning units running all day.

Sonrisa Rooms & Apartments
Upon guests checking into Sonrisa Rooms & Apartments, they are informed to drink water from the tap and use re-usable batteries, forks/spoons, solar energy for hot water, and to place their bath towels on the floor when they re ready for clean towels.

Wannadive Hut
Wanadive Hut asks Dutch visitors to keep their used batteries and bring them back to Holland since they provide special boxes to dispose of batteries. They also collect empty ink cartridges and put them in special envelopes to be refilled. Bottled water is also not sold, but ice water is available in a big jug for people to refill their reusable bottles.

Black Durgon and Divers Paradise
Black Durgon and Divers Paradise discourage buying bottle water and inform guests that the bottled water in Bonaire is the same as tap water. They also have guests put all fruit rinds and melon seeds in a separate container that is given to the horses, donkeys, goats and chickens daily.

Den Laman Condominiums
Den Laman is continuing efforts to seek measures to lessen their environmental impact while ensuring guest comfort and convenience. For several years now, they have used only eco-friendly cleaning products, and by the end of 2008, two new measures will be added to the list of existing accomplishments, including the installation of room sensors designed to shut off air-conditioning units when guest rooms are unoccupied, and the installation of a laundry facility on property which will enable the use of green laundering products. The laundry facility will also have coin operated machines available for guest use once completed.

Bonaire Caribbean Real Estate
Bonaire Caribbean Real Estate encourages guests to hand over their batteries to the front desk so they can put them in a special container that gets shipped to the USA.

Washington Slagbaai National Park
Washington Slagbaai National Park helps the environment as all their buildings in the park generate electricity from solar energy, waste water is collected in hard plastic containers and park vehicles receive regular service: motor service and tire pressure check.

STINAPA Headquarters of the Bonaire National Marine Park
Bonaire National Marine Park has solar guard film placed on all glass windows of the building that reduces 70% of solar rays, all park vehicles as well as outboard boat motors receive regular service, daily car pooling to and from work of employees and all air-conditioning units receive regular service.  (Source:  TCB-NY)