Case study 2
Mount Nelson Hotel
Question 1: What initiatives have been implemented?
Earthworm farms were installed in approximately 2006 to recycle organic food waste produced by the hotel’s kitchens. Water from the Hof mountain spring is further used to
irrigate the hotel’s garden.
Question 2: How have these initiatives been implemented?
The earthworm farm operation is currently managed by Why Waste who is also involved in expanding the number of worm basins at the hotel. Why Waste provided training to
the chefs regarding the maintenance of the earthworm farms and provided onsite support for the first few months of the operation. Organic food waste which cannot be
digested by the earthworms is broken down using Bokashi Bran, consisting of wheat bran and microorganisms, in large bins. The end product is collected by Why Waste,
processed off site and the remaining compost is returned to the hotel. The hotel’s garden is watered using the spring water from Table Mountain. The captured water is only
used during summer months with low rainfall.
Question 3: Why were these initiatives implemented?
The hotel’s gardens cover an area of seven hectares and the hotel management has further plans to grow a herb garden which will cover the roof of the hotel. The earthworm
farms provide the necessary compost and worm juice to supplement the compost needs of the gardens. The initiative further prevents a total of 50 kilograms of food waste from
reaching landfills on a weekly basis. The water from the Hof mountain spring is captured in a 120 kilolitre water tank as a sustainable source of water which is readily available.
The spring runs through the grounds of the hotel and the water would otherwise run downstream. The water tank is used to redirect the path of the water to the hotel’s gardens.
Question 4: What are the objectives of the initiatives?
These initiatives illustrate the hotel’s responsibility to the environment and its sustainability as a hospitality provider.
Question 5: Who are the staff involved and why were these members chosen?
Two chefs were selected by the hotel and trained by Why Waste to control the earthworm farm operation. A section of the kitchen fridge is demarcated for the organic food waste
which is stored until needed for the worm basins.
Question 6: What are the outcomes and success rate?
The initiatives were implemented for the future sustainability of the hotel. To ensure a healthy environment, management aims to implement individual efforts which eventually
add to the larger outcomes.