Delaware North has committed to achieving Zero Waste in each of the national parks
in which it operates.

In the coming years, the company’s operations in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, Shenandoah National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Kalaloch Lodge in Olympic National Park and Peaks of Otter Lodge on the Blue Ridge Parkway, intend to reach Zero Waste according to LEED’s Total Resource Use and Efficiency (TRUE) standards.

The locations would join Delaware North’s Yellowstone General Stores warehouse, operated in Yellowstone National Park, which in 2016 became the first facility within the United States’ 58 national parks to become Zero Waste certified.

The zero-waste concept is based on emulating sustainable natural cycles so that all discarded materials become resources for others to use, thus minimizing waste that would otherwise go to a landfill. Businesses with a 90 percent waste diversion rate can apply for this certification. Once accepted into the program, the business must complete a detailed scorecard process and pass an onsite validation audit.

In preparation, eight Delaware North associates have attained TRUE Advisor Certification to support the Zero Waste program, including Deb Friedel, Delaware North’s director of sustainability, and Vicki McMichael, director of compliance and sustainability for parks and resorts.

The parks and resorts division has also named Kaitlin Christiansen, environmental and risk manager for Delaware North’s operations at Grand Canyon, as Zero Waste chairperson to guide each of the locations’ efforts.