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LA COSTA RESORT AND SPA’S NEWEST RECIPE
IS ALL ABOUT BEING “GREEN”
Resort one of first to install compost system that recycles
food waste into a nutrient-rich compost
CARLSBAD, Calif.. – January 2010- In an effort to continue to reduce, reuse and recycle, the kitchens at La Costa Resort and Spa are cooking up something good…for the plants that is. With the installation of two industrial compost machines, La Costa’s latest recipe is not meant to please the human palate, but instead caters to mother earth by turning kitchen scraps into a nutrient-rich compost suitable for use on the golf course and in hotel plant and flower beds.
“La Costa is continually looking for ways to minimize consumption and waste without detracting from the quality of our guest experience,” said April Shute, vice president and general manager. “The compost machine is a great example of how we accomplish this goal. It allows us to turn 182,000 pounds of food waste per year into a product that ultimately enhances the beauty of our resort.”
La Costa is one of the first kitchens in San Diego to install the E-corect Food Waste Decomposition System, which dehydrates food waste to produce a humus-rich soil in approximately 18 hours that is suitable for landscape use. The food waste is heated to 180° F in a decomposing chamber without the use of enzymes, by-product, fresh water or venting, resulting in zero sewer and landfill impact.
A stainless steel, stand-alone unit, the machine requires very low energy usage and includes a unique odor control system that keeps the kitchens free from unpleasant odors. Like the compost, the water extracted by the machine is very nutrient rich and, if saved, can be used to fertilize indoor and outdoor plants quite effectively.
“With the exception of bones and a few other items, just about anything can be used in the compost machine,” said Hans Wiegand, La Costa’s executive chef. “It’s been fun experimenting with what goes into the machine to produce the best compost product. We created the La Costa recipe: two parts vegetable scrap from the kitchen, one part banquet scrap and one part table scrap from the restaurants.”
Each day, approximately 40 pounds of compost is produced and given to the grounds keeping team to use around the property.
La Costa’s commitment to environmentally friendly practices goes beyond the new composting effort. A few of the resort’s other practices to minimize environmental impact include:
- Aggressive use of computerized energy management systems, green lighting and staff training to save enough energy to power 200 homes annually.
- Golf equipment that uses only biodegradable oil.
- Recycling of 50 to 80 percent of all laundry water.
- No use of chlorine bleach, phosphate detergents or NPEs in the laundry department.
- Recycling of a wide range of materials including, but not limited to, the following: green waste, wood (pallets), metal and stainless steel products, used range balls, alkaline batteries, light bulbs, cooking oil, cardboard, plastic, cans and paper.
About La Costa Resort and Spa
Nestled among the beautiful coastal foothills of Carlsbad, Calif., north of San Diego, La Costa Resort and Spa boasts the 43,000 square-foot Spa at La Costa, 552 spacious and well-appointed guestrooms and 76 deluxe one- and two-bedroom suites, a Clubhouse with a fitness center, two acclaimed restaurants - Legends and BlueFire Grill and two championship golf courses. The entire resort, linked by walkways and washed in color by lush vegetation and gardens, enjoys a village-like ambience. For more information on La Costa Resort and Spa, call (800) 854-5000 or visit www.lacosta.com.
About KSL Resorts
Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages seven time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities, including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy, and genuine in service. The KSL Resorts are:
• Hotel del Coronado (San Diego)
• Beach Village at The Del (San Diego)
• La Costa Resort and Spa (Carlsbad, Calif.)
• Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
• Vail Mountain Lodge & Spa (Vail, Colo.)
• Barton Creek Resort & Spa (Austin, Texas)
• The Homestead (Hot Springs, Va.)
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