Give a Cow A Nice Place to Sleep

by Joe Barks (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
June 2007
 

When it comes to save-the-animals causes, I have to admit, I don’t get too charged up about whales or spotted owls or Amazon tree frogs, or other species I rarely see. But I have always had a soft spot for cows—there are few sights that I find more idyllic than a bunch of heifers chillin’ in a field.

So as I was reading an article—one of many I’ve seen lately—about how properties in the hospitality industry are using more environmentally “green” practices as part of renovations and new construction, one fact jumped out at me: Apparently, old ground-up drywall can be recycled and resold to be used as livestock bedding. This made me start itching just to think about it; but hey, if it helps more cows have a good night’s sleep, I’m all for it.

As the renovation boom continues for clubs and resorts, there are other reasons to try to find a good second use for all of the stuff we’re tearing apart, even if you could care less if cows have a comfier cushion for their naps.
For one thing, getting into this green scene can put a serious dent in construction costs. The recycling industry is teeming right now with specialized companies that have found new uses for pretty much anything you’re inclined to have hauled off to a landfill. And they are all happy to come to your property and charge much less to take it away than what you’d pay normal trash haulers.

A lot of times, in fact, you can work out deals to have some of these companies reprocess materials and sell them back to you for a fraction of what you’d pay for things you’re going to buy anyway, like mulch or soil additives (another byproduct of recycled drywall).

So as part of the bidding process for any project, it can be well worth it to have your construction team invite both traditional disposal companies and recycling operations in your area to make presentations, so you can do a material-by-material assessment of what could be recycled and what will be more cost-efficient to just have hauled away. In some instances, recycling costs can be higher, depending on the amount of waste discarded and the number of trips that have to be made to the recycling facility.

On the other side of the process, you can score a lot of marketing points, and create some special interest in your new building, by looking into new sources that use recycled materials for traditional construction needs. Some of this stuff can be pretty wild: insulation made from recycled denim, walls made from 100 percent recycled milk jugs, bathroom and kitchen tiles from recycled glass and ceramic. It can also be pretty expensive, so the same tradeoffs need to be weighed carefully at this end, too.

But your members and guests—and especially their kids—might find it cool to know how both your old structure, and your new one, have helped old trash find new life. And given cows better Zs.