Whenever an out-of-town friend asks for a hotel recommendation, it can put you in a strange spot. You live here. How are you supposed to know what the hotels are like? But if you’re at all eco-conscious, there is at least one local hotel that should be on your radar: the Boulder Outlook Hotel & Suites.

The Outlook promotes itself as Boulder’s first “zero-waste” hotel. Zero waste is a philosophy and practice that allows people and businesses to maximize reusing and recycling to their greatest potential, while minimizing the amount of waste produced. And, in the travel industry, that can be a difficult task.

All too often our travel and visiting plans take a toll on the environment: the fuel we use to get to our destination, the temporary water bottles and, of course, our lodging. Typically, hotels come in and change sheets and towels every day and automatically empty unfilled trashcans. This can result in a drastically increased carbon footprint.

So what does a zero-waste hotel actually look like? Boulder Weekly decided to check in and check it out. Here’s what we found:

Recycle! Recycle! Recycle!
It’s difficult to find a hotel that offers any sort of recycling options, let alone a comprehensive one. At Outlook, there are separate containers based on which items you would like to recycle. The containers are also color-coded to help you keep track of your disposal. But in addition to the glass/plastic/paper separation we are all too familiar with, Boulder Outlook also offers composting. Yes, composting. Bags in your room and the lobby are provided with clear instructions as to what you can compost. Turns out, quite a bit. An apple core, wet paper, orange rinds and a slew of other items can be redirected from a landfill to a reusable compost material. Even the cups that Boulder Outlook provides for your use in the room can be composted.

Precious, precious water
Water waste can be a serious issue when it comes to hotel stays. There are a few different ways that the Outlook encourages water conservation. For one, you can separate which towels and sheets you would like washed during your stay. Don’t mind reusing a towel?

Don’t have it washed; you’ll be saving water and keeping the water costs down for the hotel. In addition, rather than encourage you to use plastic water bottles, Outlook offers you a glass pitcher in the refrigerator. The pitcher can be refilled at the end of the hallway with purified drinking water, and you can drink out of compostable cups. But that’s not all. If you prefer to take some water with you on the go, Outlook also offers reusable metal water bottles for you to use during your stay. All you have to do is put down a refundable $6 deposit and return it when you check out.

Pedal power
One of Boulder’s greatest assets is its bicycle navigability. You can get just about anywhere in town on a bike, and oftentimes faster than you would in a vehicle. To encourage its lodgers to go the two-wheel route, Outlook allows those staying at the hotel to ride its cruiser bikes around town for free. Included with the bicycle, which can be ridden anywhere in town during daylight hours, are a bike lock and helmet. In addition to riding, Boulder Outlook encourages the outdoor lifestyle by letting you warm up for a Flatirons climb on its indoor climbing rocks.

For more information on Boulder Outlook Hotel & Suites and its zero-waste practices, please visit www.boulderoutlook.com, or call 303-443-3322.

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