Food recycling scheme proves hotel's green credentials

The Casa Hotel in Chesterfield has implemented a new food recycling scheme as part of its ongoing waste management and recycling efforts.

The kitchen is sending all food waste - except meat and plate scrapings - to nearby Walton Lodge Farm (belonging to the hotel's owner, Steve Perez), where it will be fed to pigs that will in turn be used by Casa for bacon, sausages and pork.

Steve Perez, owner of Casa Hotel and Walton Lodge Farm, said: "By recycling food in this way, we ensure that far from going to waste, it is instead used in positive and innovative ways to help the environment and help feed locally reared animals that later produce high quality meat.

"Serving local produce is extremely important to us. It means that the food on our customer's plate is certifiably fresh and has as few food miles as possible.

"The results of this scheme are beneficial to everyone, most importantly the environment. It would be great to think that we are setting the standard for waste recycling, and that others might follow."

Walton Lodge Farm is based in Chesterfield - on the edge of the Peak District National Park - and provides Casa with eggs, sausages and herbs. Pigs, cows and chickens are able to graze and roam around the natural grass and woodlands of the 250 acre estate, while the farm also has a herb garden specially created for the hotel. All meat is butchered locally and the hotel's bacon is cured and smoked in nearby Bolsover, meaning that it only has to travel just 7 food-miles before reaching Casa.

Further enhancing Casa's green credentials, a member of the hotel staff is transforming used cooking oil from the kitchen to produce a bio-fuel that he uses to power his car instead of diesel, and that can be used to power most diesel engines.

Dan Dore, New Media Manager for Casa Hotel, said: "I'm passionate about reducing my impact on the environment and have been working towards being self sufficient in energy and food production for years. I'd planned to produce Biodiesel for a while, so when Casa agreed to let me collect their oil it gave me the impetus to put those plans into action.

"Any diesel engine will run safely on pure biodiesel however it's essential to make good quality biodiesel as poor quality fuel can permanently damage your engine. Good quality biodiesel is actually beneficial for your engine (over petroleum diesel), as it prolongs its life."

Casa is the highest AA rated 4 star hotel in Chesterfield and is currently the highest ranking hotel in Derbyshire on the world's largest travel site, TripAdvisor.

For more information, visit casahotels.co.uk