Dare County & Sun Realty join efforts to support Responsible Tourism
Outer Banks, NC - Dare County and Sun Realty partnered for the 2009 vacation season to implement a collaborative recycling program. With over 3 million tourists visiting Dare County during the 2009 season, Sun Realty began encouraging summer visitors to recycle while on their Outer Banks vacations. Responsible Tourism, a pathway to sustainable tourism, is a growing trend in the vacation travel industry. Consumers are increasingly seeking businesses that are environmentally conscious. Ideally, other Outer Banks vacation companies will soon come on board with this innovative recycling program.
In the spring of 2009, Dare County Recycling Manager, Carl Walker, and Ron Akers, General Manager of Sun Realty's maintenance division, came together to discuss how to increase recycling by Sun Realty guests during the busy vacation season. The first phase of the program included placing recycling centers at every Sun Realty office in Dare County. On Thursdays and Fridays, the materials were picked up and taken to the Manteo location of the Dare County Recycling Center, where the materials are sorted and processed. Making it even easier than ever to recycle in Dare County, vacationers do not even need to sort their materials, just drop off! Phase 2 is to begin "rolling out" the program to Outer Banks vacationers in 2010.
"Ron and the Sun team have made great efforts to decrease the amount of materials wasted during the 2009 vacation season. It has been a pleasure working with a company so devoted to the environment as Sun Realty," stated Walker.
Mr. Walker also mentioned that to-date, Sun Realty is the only property management company on the Outer Banks who sought out the program.
"This initiative was well-received by employees and guests. We are proud to have launched another sustainable program here at Sun Realty," stated Ron Akers, on the success of the program's first year.
In addition to recycling, Sun Realty has incorporated other sustainable initiatives including; electronic document signing and work orders, energy efficient lighting, 100% green chemicals in the laundry center, and FSC certified paper in the printing of the Sun Realty Vacation Rental Guide.
Pictured Left to Right: 1) Carl Walker, Dare County Recycling Manager, 2) Ali Breaux, President of Sun Realty, and 3) Ron Akers, Sun Services General Manager
About Sun Realty:
Sun Realty is the largest full service real estate sales and property management company on The Outer Banks of North Carolina. Established in 1980 by Paul Breaux, Sun Realty serves from the Currituck mainland and Corolla to Hatteras Island. For more information visit www.sunrealtync.com, or call 1-888-853-7770.