The Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment World in Port Elizabeth continues to subscribe by its mantra; reduce, reuse and recycle − a commitment to promote and conserve a sustainable environment and community, while reducing waste and energy consumption.
As captured in its environmental reports published since 2002, The Boardwalk has shown steady improvements in terms of its compliance with environmental standards in the leisure and tourism industry. Through its commitment to continually raising the bar in this regard, The Boardwalk and its tenants succeed in delivering a clean, environmentally-friendly and resource-efficient precinct. This ensures that visitors have the privilege of experiencing clean and well-maintained facilities, well-tended gardens, and healthy fish and other wildlife in the lakes.
Through Sun International’s group-wide environmental initiative called SunGlow, The Boardwalk has set targets for the reduction of electricity usage by 5%, and waste sent to landfill by 3%.
“The Boardwalk has adopted the Sun International Group sustainability policy which provides the framework to which we operate in terms of environmental, social and corporate governance aspects. We have strict policies in place to ensure effective waste and water management. Everyone, at all levels, is encouraged to use resources sustainably, recycle where possible, and minimize waste.
“We are heartened by the progress we have made thus far. We have increased in the volumes of recycling collected and decreased the amount of waste to landfill, in line with our targets,” says Peter Tshidi, Operations Manager at The Boardwalk.
The complex processes large volumes of waste, so to streamline the waste, the complex is divided into four distinct zones; the main casino zone, the hotel zone, the Magic Company, and the retail and restaurant zone.
Each of these four zones creates a constant flow of waste throughout the day. The zones also create their own particular type of waste and are served by dedicated waste yards. Different bins are in use on the site to separate food waste from other types of waste such as wet waste, plastic, tin, metals and hazardous waste. Recyclables are safely bailed and transported to recyclers or to manufacturing companies for processing while organic waste is taken to a composting facility.
The Boardwalk aims to reduce the need to landfill and extract value from re-usable or recyclable material and even add value by making compost from organic waste.
The Boardwalk has a focused Environmental committee, with the Health and Safety Manager, Dean Blom, being the driving force behind The Boardwalk’s Environmental Management System implementation. He ensures that environmental management receives constant attention.
Recognising that its employees have a fundamental role to play in ensuring the success and sustainability of its environmental sustainability initiatives, an awareness programme has been rolled out to educate them about saving electricity, conserving water and other issues around environmental responsibility.
“The Boardwalk’s employees are trained on proper recycling processes and are encouraged to be ambassadors for the company’s green ambitions. This includes adhering to environmental policies while at work and adopting green practices in their own homes.
“In everything we do, we strive to ensure that our business interests are harmonious with those of the environment. Our commitment to environmentally-sound business practices is strategic,” concludes Tshidi.
Download The Boardwalk 2015 Environmental Report here or visit the Boardwalk website at: www.suninternational.com/boardwalk/
