Le Méridien St Julian's Hotel and Spa has been awarded Green Pak Malta's certification in waste management.

Since joining the green project, organic waste has fallen by 40 per cent and Green Pak has offered to extend its free collection of the separated waste of Le Méridien St Julian's by a further six months.

Security and health and safety manager Joseph Zammit said Green Pak offered free training to the hotel's staff before the separation programme began. "We had a high level of participation from the employees, who attended a three-hour session once a week for five weeks," he explained.

Green Pak operation manager Daniel Tabone and waste education officer Kareena Mutch delivered the training.

Hotel manager Angela Saliba, who was instrumental in introducing the programme, said that in line with Starwood Hotels and Resorts' policy, Mr Zammit was appointed Starwood's Green Project Environmental Sustainability Champion.

This involved ensuring that the hotel complied with all the energy-saving and environmental sustainable programmes, including waste management.

Originally, on its own initiative, Le Méridien St Julian's only separated glass. It now also separates carton and paper, tins and cans, and plastic bottles and cups. All the organic waste that remains has now fallen to 60 per cent, which also means a considerable saving in costs to have this waste disposed of.