Environmental Policy
Hostelling International Iceland and employees of the Hostels want to contribute to supporting and strengthening the environmental consciousness and sense of responsibility of both Icelandic and foreign travelers in Iceland by:
Offering guests facilities, services and recreation where responsible treatment of nature and the environment are the guiding principles.
Aiming for constant improvement in important environmental aspects within the travel industry. These include consumption, reuse and recycling, pollution, energy use, transportation, the external environment, and environmental education.
- Full consideration shall be taken to environmental viewpoints in daily operation of the Hostels and in purchasing supplies.
- Activities shall be arranged in a way so that responsible treatment of waste, such as sorting, recycling and disposal, will be an integral part of daily activities.
- Steps will be taken to reduce pollution associated with operations, such as noise, air, visual, water, and soil pollution, as well as drainage and smells.
- Energy use will be monitored, with ways sought to reduce it, and to use energy in the most economical way.
- Use of public transit will be encouraged where possible.
- Landscape, natural features and buildings will be taken into consideration in the planning, design and placement of man-made structures, signs and other construction at Hostels and in the surrounding area. Where appropriate, erosion control measures and planting will be undertaken.
- A range of ways will be explored to show and explain in practical works, speeches and printed material how environmental matters are tied in with methods of traveling, daily life and each person's actions.
Ways and daily tasks of fulfilling this policy
Full consideration shall be taken to environmental viewpoints in daily operation of the Hostels and in purchasing supplies.
- Buy in bulk rather than in “retail packaging” to cut down on unnecessary waste packaging.
Choose acknowledged environmental friendly products.
- Use reusable rather than disposable tableware in the kitchens and dining areas.
- Save consumption water where necessary.
- Use reusable cleaning cloths and environmentally friendly cleaning products for daily cleaning.
- Avoid usage of dangerous chemicals like oil, paint, dish washing powder, poisoned substances, lacquer and batteries and store them in properly marked containers in safe places.
- Use the minimum amount of paper and use partly or completely recycled paper but not one that is chlorine bleached.
- Avoid over usage of washing powder and choose environmental friendly products.
Activities shall be arranged in a way so that responsible treatment of waste, such as sorting, recycling and disposal, will be an integral part of daily activities.
- Establish recycling for paper, cartons, glass, plastic containers, toxic waste and organic waste as well as clear instructions to staff and guests of how to get rid of the above elements.
- Dispose of dangerous chemical as oil, paint, cleaning products, toxic substances, lacquer and batteries in an appropriate way.
- Old articles that we do not use any more such as furnitures, duvets, drapes etc. should be given a new life by giving them to appropriate organizations that can use them.
Steps will be taken to reduce pollution associated with operations, such as noise, air, visual, water, and soil pollution, as well as drainage and smells.
- Provide regular cleaning of garbage within the premises and along driveways.
- Distribute general pointers about better treatment of nature.
- Create an effective way to collect and then discharge garbage so the time between each discharge will not be too long.
- Reduce the levels of exhaust emissions from cars and other vehicles as much as possible.
- Make sure that the conditions of the drainage systems and septic tanks are in accordance with current
regulations.
- Forbid smoking at the Hostels.
Energy use will be monitored, with ways sought to reduce it, and to use energy in the most economical way.
- Consider the buildings isolation aspect while building and reconstructing housing.
- Monitor the interaction between oven heat and open able spaces to prevent unnecessary energy outlet.
- Buy energy saving and environmental friendly electrical appliances which need environmental friendly maintenance products.
- Turn off lights and electrical appliances such as computers, printers, photocopying machines and radios after work.
- See to that the oven systems are adjusted regularly.
Use of public transit will be encouraged where possible.
- Put up accessible and thorough information about public transportation in the area as well as general information about driving in Iceland. Encourage people to share cars whenever it is applicable.
- Encourage guests who otherwise would travel in cars to explore close areas on foot, on bicycles or by using public transportation.
- Sell tickets and passes for public transportation wherever it is possible.
Landscape, natural features and buildings will be taken into consideration in the planning, design and placement of man-made structures, signs and other construction at Hostels and in the surrounding area. Where appropriate, erosion control measures and planting will be undertaken.
- Always have trash bins available outside the hostel. Make sure that the bins are always orderly and that they are set up to receive the different garbage groups for recycling. Put up clear and visible instruction on how to recycle.
- Encourage the guests and other pedestrians who use the premises to keep to the walking paths so as to protect the ground and delicate vegetation.
- Plant and grow trees and other vegetation around the Hostel and/or in particular areas.
- Choose organic fertilizer rather than ready-made fertilizer, and keep the use of poisonous substances e.g. weed eliminator to an absolute minimum
A range of ways will be explored to show and explain in practical works, speeches and printed material how environmental matters are tied in with methods of travelling, daily life and each person's actions.
- Present rules and instructions about environmental issues in a way it is both informative and in a way it presents a certain value to the guests.
- Provide informative material about the connection between the areas nature and the history of housing in the area.
- Equality has to exist between work ethics and other operations on the premises.
- Provide information about close areas that are special in any way or delicate for it’s surrounding.
- Provide Hostel staff information and education about all aspects of Hostelling International Iceland environmental policy so they will be even better prepared to meet our customer’s requirements.