t’s National Crush a Can Day! Crushing cans is just a small part of the Rolling Hills Recycling Program.
According to Robin Mueller, Housekeeping Manager, Rolling Hills recycles 9.91 tons each month, which includes cans, bottles, plastic, paper, metal scraps, food waste, and grass clippings.
“We save slop from the kitchen for a local pig farmer and we give our grass clippings to a an employee’s goat herd,” said Robin. “We use coffee grounds from Aromas to compost the Rolling Hills tomato and herb garden.”
“Rolling Hills made recycling and waste reduction a priority in in its efforts to be greener and environmentally responsible,” said Wayne McIvor, Maintenance Manager at the Resort. “Six months before beginning our recycling program we averaged 18 tons of trash per week,” said McIvor. “We now recycle about ten tons of recyclable products per month that would have gone to our local land fill.”
Cost savings are an added benefit of going green. Rolling Hills Casino pays $44.80 per ton to haul the trash. By reducing the amount of trash hauled away, the Casino saved $8,602 in the first six months. At the same time, the Casino received $6,498 through recycling. This means, Rolling Hills had a cost savings of $15,099 in just six months.
Recycling is a Casino-wide priority. The Food and Beverage Department employees organized a can and bottle recycling program to raise money for the Community Christmas fund. Last year, the employees raised $2,500, which they used to purchase gifts for needy families.