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The received the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency’s (OCRRA) Blue Ribbon Recycler of the Year award in the tourism category.

The Syracuse Sheraton was one of eight local companies to receive the Blue Ribbon Recycler distinction, which is awarded to local businesses that demonstrate environmental leadership in recycling and waste reduction. According to Rich Duda, director of sales and marketing, under OCRRA’s Blue Ribbon Recycler assistance, personnel of the Sheraton have become more conscientious recyclers, achieving substantial cost savings through green efforts and reducing their waste by more than 200 tons annually.

The hotel produced numerous initiatives to achieve this goal, including placing recycling containers in every room with informational booklets for guests, and educating the staff on what is and is not recyclable. Other efforts include purchasing paper products with at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled content, recycling fats and oils in the kitchen and properly disposing of batteries and other electronic equipment in an environmentally-friendly way.

Director of engineering Pete LaPage describes the initiative as a “win-win” scenario because it not only helps the environment, but brings down operational costs as well. LaPage says, “Once (the staff) got involved they realized how easy it was. It became almost a competition of who can recycle more.”

The Syracuse Sheraton also received the 2009 Good Earth Keeping Award from the New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association for its green efforts.