July 11th 2024.
Starting in January 2025, hotels in New York City with 50 or more guests will have a new rule to follow: they can no longer provide small bottles of shampoo and lotion to their guests. This change is due to a state law that aims to reduce waste and promote environmental sustainability.
The law defines "hospitality personal care products" as items that are meant to be used on the human body, such as shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and liquid soap. And when we say small bottles, we mean anything that's 12 ounces or less.
Frank Strangio, President of the Niagra Falls Hotel and Motel Association, believes this new law is a step in the right direction for the environment. "There's a lot of reasons for it on the environmental side," he explains. "All those bottles end up in the garbage and just keep piling up."
As the owner of two hotels in the city's south end, Strangio and other hotel owners have already taken action by installing dispensers in their guest rooms. These dispensers allow guests to use as much or as little product as they need, reducing the amount of wasted product. While the initial cost of installing the dispensers was high, it will ultimately save the hotel owners money in the long run.
Strangio also points out that small bottles often get used once and then discarded, even if they are only half full. By using dispensers, guests can use as much product as they need without any waste.
One might wonder why hotels can't just refill the small bottles for future guests. Strangio explains that this is not done to ensure that the products have not been tampered with. "You want them to be properly sealed so that guests know that what they are using is the product that is supposed to be in there," he says. The dispensers in the guest rooms also have locks to prevent any tampering, making it a safe and efficient solution.
And it's not just the environment that will benefit from this change. Strangio also mentions the positive impact it will have on housekeeping attendants. "It's one less thing they have to replenish on a daily basis, especially during the busy season," he says. This not only saves time but also makes the cleaning process more streamlined.
By 2026, all hotels in New York will be required to follow this small bottle ban. This law is just one of the many steps being taken to promote sustainability and combat climate change. In fact, President Biden recently announced measures to protect US workers from extreme heat, showing a strong commitment to addressing the urgent issue of climate change.
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