May-June ’15
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Sept-Oct ’15
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Publisher cum Editor Rajneesh Sharma Resident Editor Sharmila Chand (Delhi) Ashok Malkani (Mumbai) Layout & Design Hari Kumar. V Production Assistant Mamta Sharma Advertising Sales Delhi: Debabrata Nath, Sumesh Sharma Director Sales Sanjay Anand Director Operations & Finance Rajat Taneja Editorial & Advertising Offices: Delhi: Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 206, Samrat Bhawan, Ranjeet Nagar Commercial Complex, New Delhi-110008 Phone: 91-11-45084903, 45093486, 25704103 Mumbai: Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd. 105, 1st Floor, Aarpee Centre, Gufic Compound, 11th Road, MIDC, Near Tunga Paradise, Andheri (E), Mumbai-400 093 Ph.: 91-22-28395833 Telefax: 91-22-28388947 Website: www.chrmag.com E-mail: info@hammer.co.in © 2015 Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
ne year may be too short a time to evaluate the progress of as massive a mission as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or the Clean India Mission, but given its steep target, a close monitoring should not raise eyebrows. So is India on the right track to emerge as a “clean” nation by 2019 as envisaged by the “mother” of all missions launched on October 2 last year? The Cover Story of this issue seeks to offer an answer while highlighting the success of the mission so far and also pointing out the challenges especially that of changing behavior of the people and creating a demand for sanitation across the country – challenges that set this mission clearly apart from that of others. While the efforts to fulfill the promises that the Prime Minister made from the ramparts of the Red Fort last year seem to be gaining steam, only time will provide a clear answer to the question of its success and failure. The Business Story of this issue highlights that the laundry industry may provide a viable option to those looking for a business opportunity without the need for massive investment. It dissects the pros and cons of starting a laundry business in India, especially at a time when the demand for sanitation is definitely on the upswing. What, however, makes the laundry business stand out is that it is hardly impacted by any economic downturn. However, succeeding in any business including laundry is never a cakewalk. But strict adherence to procedures and the right attitude, the author argues, could take an entrepreneur to the doors of success and prosperity. It should here be mentioned that even procedures may vary according to the area of your business. For example, the procedures for hotel laundry may be different from that of healthcare laundry. For more details, you will have to read the full story. As with all former issues, this edition of the magazine is too packed with other regular features that offer a wealth of new information unfolding in the industry. The Pest Management feature that highlights how a new insecticide that can be safe for human consumption could change the way we perceive pesticides is a case in point. I am sure you will find other regular features such as those on waste management and indoor air quality equally interesting. An effort to capture the latest industry updates that sometimes allow you to peep into the emerging future opportunities is made on the News Scan and Report sections. Happy Reading!
Clean & Hygiene Review is a bi-monthly magazine, printed, owned and published by Rajneesh Sharma from 313, Himgiri Apartments, J-Block, Vikaspuri, New Delhi. Printed at Print Creations, C-112/3, Basement, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi-110 028. Annual Subscription rate within India is Rs. 450 and overseas US $110, for surface mail. Single issue is available for Rs.90 in India and US $25 overseas. Cheques are payable to Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
Editorial Policy : Editorial emphasis in Clean & Hygiene Review magazine is on educational & informational material specifically designed to assist those responsible for managing cleaning & maintenance, Laundry, Pest Control, Water & Waste Management and Environment. Articles are welcome and will be published on the sole discretion of the editor.
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Sept-Oct ’15
Contents COVER STORY
PEST MANAGEMENT
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Pest Control in Commercial Kitchens
Will Swachh Bharat Mission Succeed?
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ne year after its launch, the massive Clean India Mission continues to face myriad challenges – from infrastructure building and changing behaviour of people
LAUNDRY
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trategic combination of different pest control methods can help control pest in commercial kitchens
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BUSINESS
14 Laundry: No Dirty Business
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re you looking for a business venture which does not require huge investment but brings a decent amount of profit? Look no further. The laundry industry may offer you a viable option
SECTIONS 4
News Scan
Dry Cleaning Versus Wet Cleaning
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ith concerns about the health effects of dry cleaning chemicals growing, new wet cleaning techniques promise a viable alternative. But can wet cleaning completely replace dry cleaning?
30 IAQ
7 Report
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Health & Safety
18 Cleaning
34
Product Preview
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36 Interview
Waste Management
Sept-Oct ’15
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DG Insta Toilet forays into Madhya Pradesh W
ith campaigns like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan increasing emphasis on sanitation, DG Infrastructure recently announced the launch of DG Insta Modular Toilets (PreFab), a quick toilet installation technique, in Madhya Pradesh. Pre Fabricated Technology (PEB) is a quick installation technique that is easy to maintain, easy to transport and 100% modular in nature. The PreFab modular toilet initiative is undertaken by DG infrastructure and emphasizes on keeping India clean. “Given the Central Government requirement of 5.2 million affordable toilets in India by this year and project execution challenges and shortage of human resources, the traditional ‘brick and mortar’ construction is giving way to prefab structures and materials, “explained S Dhar, CMD, DG Infrastructure. “Prefab technologies can be used to build toilets quickly and cost-effectively, especially as traditional construction costs continue to rise. Modular construction is faster and adds to the vision of Swachh Bharat Programme,” Dhar noted. “Prefabrication involves various structures such as columns, walls, floors and roof to be manufactured in the factory and then transporting them to the construction site where they are installed. One toilet can be installed in just 15 minutes,” R. Patil, Project Director, DG Infrastructure, said.
Grundfos brings its Lifelink water solutions to India W
ith the aim of strengthen the quality, reliability and sustainability of drinking water supply in the developing world, Grundfos, a global leader in advanced pump solutions and water technology, announced in October the launch of Grundfos Lifelink water solutions in India. “It is a proud moment for us to now being able to offer Grundfos Lifelink water solutions in India,” said Peter Todbjerg Hansen, Managing Director of the Grundfos Lifelink business. According to a recent study in India, more than 97 million people lack access to safe drinking water. Lack of access to reliable water supply is prevalent in both urban and rural areas in the country. The Grundfos Lifelink water solutions empower water service providers to provide a more reliable water supply to consumers with the help of innovative technology through reliable partnerships across India. It can apply to small or large water schemes, be it in rural or urban settings, for water utilities, NGOs and community-based organizations. Lifelink solutions combine renewable energy, proven pump technology, an automatic dispenser with integrated revenue collection, online water management and a professional service network. “We believe in the co-operation between technology leaders and local entrepreneurs to implement innovative solutions and make a difference for people with little or no access to clean drinking water,” Hansen said. “This concept has proven successful in our activities across Asia and Africa where our solutions are ensuring a reliable access to safe water for thousands of people already. We look forward to partnering with government and private sectors to deploy our proven solutions in India,” Hansen noted.
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Sept-Oct ’15
N E WS SCAN
Sealed Air launches global R&D center in India S ealed Air Corporation, a Fortune 500 company engaged in the business of food packaging and food safety, cleaning and hygiene solution inaugurated its expanded facilities for research & development center in Mumbai in September. The initiative marks the establishment of the company’s global fabric care center of excellence and global center of excellence for food and beverage (F&B) hygiene solutions as well an Indian packaging solution center. “It is a milestone in our journey to constantly innovate new solutions and in the process, contribute to the transformation of India. We will continue to invest in developing the capabilities of our young and talented workforce in India,” said Himanshu Jain, Sealed Air Vice President, Indian-subcontinent, and South East Asia. Dedicated to transforming the OnPremise Laundry (OPL), On-Premise Professional Laundr y (OPPL) and commercial laundry industries, the fabric
care center is responsible for leading Fabric Care innovations across the globe. Similarly, the food care center is dedicated to developing innovative solutions to address the critical hygiene requirements of food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries, such as CIP (Cleaning-inPlace), bottle washing, track treatment, and pasteurizer treatment. The food care facility also includes a unit with capabilities to evaluate packaging solutions for the Indian market. To put into action its goals and objectives for both Indian as well as global markets, Sealed Air is increasing its research & development (R&D) workforce in India. In January 2015, Jerome Peribere, Sealed
Air CEO, announced the R&D facility expansion and work force planning during his India visit. Peribere stated that Sealed Air will increase its R&D manpower by 50 percent and will make its global center of excellence for fabric care and food hygiene in India, due to extraordinary demand and growing business in the country. Sealed Air’s ongoing research focuses on areas such as reduction in water and energy usage in OPPL, commercial laundry and housekeeping operations through low temperature washing and drying, linen life extension, productivity enhancement, cleaning chemicals compatible to all water chemistries, extremely difficult soil removal, thus increasing resource efficiency.
‘Soap for Hope’ program gets CSR Impact Award
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or its Soap for Hope program on soap recycling and distribution, Sealed Air Corporation was named the winner of the CSR Impact category in the Asian CSR Awards 2015, presented at the 14th Asian Forum on Corporate Social Responsibility (AFCSR) held in Bangkok, Thailand in September. Sealed Air’s Himanshu Jain, Vice President for Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, received the award from M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, former Deputy Prime Minister, Kingdom of Thailand at the awards ceremony. The CSR Impact Award honors a program that has an on-going track record of significant sustainable impact and is innovative and replicable. The Soap for Hope program on soap
Sept-Oct ’15
Himanshu Jain
recycling and distribution won the award from among 134 entries from 12 countries. In partnering with hotels who are Sealed Air ’s customers, Sealed Air collects and channels used soap to local communities for recycling into
reconstituted soap bars. The soap is then distributed back to the local communities. The program’s objective is three-fold: to save lives by promoting a cleaner and healthier environment through proper hand-washing with soap: to provide a means of livelihood for local communities through learning a new skill; and to help hotels reduce waste by recycling used or discarded soap. “A typical 400-room hotel generates 3.5 metric tons of solid soap waste per annum,” said Sealed Air’s Stefan Phang, director for sustainability and CSR. “Soap for Hope addresses waste reduction and hygiene enhancement at the same time, while also generating livelihoods for local communities through soap recycling,” Phang noted.
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NE WS SCA N
Ecolab launches no-rinse floor cleaner E colab, a global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies, launched in October a no-rinse floor cleaner and sanitizer that can effectively kill dangerous pathogens such as Listeria, E. coli, Salmonella and Staphylococcus with a five-minute contact time. The product called Sanitizing Wash ‘n Walk also helps reduce slips and falls, saves energy and water (no rinse needed), and makes the cleaning process quick and easy, an official statement said. “Sanitizing Wash ‘n Walk redefines kitchen floor cleaning and takes it to a whole new level,” said Mukund Vasudevan, Managing Director & Country Head, Ecolab India. “This advanced formula can help our customers prevent food borne illness outbreaks, potentially harming their customers and their business,” Vasudevan noted. A recent Ecolab study found that 49 percent of floors and 66 percent of floor drains in commercial kitchens are contaminated with pathogens. The study also showed that regular floor and drain cleaning is not enough to reduce these pathogen levels. Routine restaurant activities, such as moving a box from the floor to a counter, can potentially transfer these pathogens onto food-contact surfaces
and onto food. With repeated use, the new Sanitizing Wash ‘n Walk lowers pathogen levels and helps keep kitchen floors cleaner, longer with an enzymatic formula that effectively eliminates grease and dirt on floor tile and grout that can collect and harbor bacteria, Vasudevan explained. “This enhanced product provides a sustained solution that goes beyond one-time cleaning to help keep pathogens from coming back. It also reduces feeding and breeding of fruit flies and helps eliminate odors when used in floor drains,” Vasudevan said.
Green walls bad for health of office workers L iving ‘green’ walls may have adverse health effects on office workers living in hot, polluted climates, new research suggests. Investigating levels of air pollutants in modern office buildings, Nicola Carslaw from York University in Britain led a modelling study focusing on ultrafine particles (UFPs). Such particles are a health concern as they can carry potentially toxic species into the lungs. Using a detailed chemical model for indoor air, concentrations of UFPs were simulated for offices in Athens, Helsinki and Milan during a heatwave across Europe in August 2003, and again during more typical summer temperatures in August 2009. These three cities were selected to compare contrasting climates and locations across Europe. The researchers found that indoor concentrations of UFPs were well above those expected through penetration of outdoor particles alone. On further investigation, the
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Green wall in Milan, Biber Architects (credit: inhabitat.com)
researchers found they were a result of high concentrations of reactive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) outdoors, emitted by plants and trees. This finding is significant as, for the first time, indoor UFP formation is shown to be linked to the oxidation of outdoor plant and tree species in heatwave conditions. Given the increasing popularity of green walls covered in plants and vegetation, their prevalence in hot, polluted locations could exacerbate indoor air pollution. The filtration of air in modern office
blocks is also seen to be less effective than expected, and this may explain why expected health benefits are often not realised when particle filters are added to a building. “Although significant attention is paid to the role of outdoor air pollution and its adverse impact on health, little thought is given to indoor air quality even though in developed countries we spend 90 per cent of our time indoors” Carslaw said: “In this study we investigated indoor air quality in offices in varying climates and found that emissions of reactive species from vegetation in hot temperatures can have a direct adverse effect on air quality in air-filtered office environments in polluted locations,” Carslaw noted. This has important implications for indoor air quality, particularly given the current trend for green walls on buildings, which could provide a potential source of biogenic emissions near to air inlet systems,” Carslaw explained.
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REP OR T
Cleaning robot market to be worth $2.50 billion by 2020 Rising labor cost is behind the increase in the demand of cleaning robots
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rowing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15.3 percent, the global cleaning robot market is estimated to be worth 2.5 billion by 2020, says a new research report. This report also describes drivers, restraints, oppor tunities, and challenges for the growth of the cleaning robot market. The factor which is driving the market is the increase in the demand of cleaning robots owing to the rise in labor costs, said the report by MarketsandMarkets that offers syndicated research services. Cleaning robot becomes a onetime investment for individuals exploring cost-effective cleaning services. Further, with technological improvements in vacuum cleaners; highly advanced, small-sized, and efficient cleaning appliances are being developed. These robots can easily fit into limited spaces compared to traditional robots. The emergence of futuristic robotics is supporting the innovation of smaller but technologically advanced and cheaper cleaning robots. Therefore, the development of small-sized cleaning robots serves to be a significant driving factor for the growth of this market, the report pointed out. Globally, the cleaning robot market is expected to witness steady growth owing to the utility of cleaning robots in various verticals. This report segments the cleaning robot market on the basis of product (floor robot, pool robot, window robot, lawn robot, and others), vertical (residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, and others), and region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and rest of the world). North America held the largest share of 39.9 percent in the cleaning robot market, in 2014 and the market in the region is expected to grow at
Sept-Oct ’15
the highest CAGR of 16.2 percent between 2015 and 2020. The report contains market size projections, and analyses of trends in the market. Each of these regions has been further split into major countries to analyze the regional cleaning robot market. The cleaning robot market has been segmented into various verticalsresidential, commercial, industrial, and healthcare, among others. The others category includes verticals such as small business units and contract service providers. The residential vertical segment led the global cleaning robot market in 2014, and accounted for a share of 59.4%. In 2014, the floor cleaning robot segment held the largest share of 59.8% of the market for the residential vertical. The research study is aimed at
identifying emerging trends and opportunities in the global cleaning robot market along with detailed classifications, and size in terms of value and volume. It provides a comprehensive competitive landscape and identifies the key players with respect to market size and market share. The research study also includes a detailed segmentation of the global cleaning robot market on the basis of products, verticals, and geography.
India vacuum cleaner market to reach Rs 6.6 billion
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riven by the booming tourism and hospitality industry, the Indian vacuum cleaner market is set to reach 6.6 billion by 2020, estimates a new report. “Rising disposable income, expanding urban population and changing consumer preferences will result in increased spending on vacuum cleaners in India,” the report by Ken Research, a leading global industry research and information service company, said. The report entitled “India Vacuum Cleaner Market Outlook to 2020” further stated that vacuum cleaners market in India has witnessed a growth in recent years on account of rising female working population, booming real estate sector and entry of foreign players in India. The boost in growth has majorly been driven by rise in demand for handheld vacuum cleaners, canister and dry vacuum cleaner models in the residential vacuum cleaner market in India. According to the report, the growth in this segment has been largely led by factors such as surging demand for aesthetically pleasing and hi-tech products, growing preference for mechanized cleaning, and efforts by the government to promote cleanliness and eco-friendly products in India. The residential vacuum cleaners market in India is dominated by Eureka Forbes which possesses a large product portfolio of vacuum cleaners catering to the domestic demand, found the research. However, the non-residential sector is characterized by a large number of players with Roots Multi-Clean as the leader among them, the report stated. However, “low advertising efforts by the companies and cheap imports from China are among the major challenges which will affect the growth of this industry in the future”, the analysis showed.
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COVER ST OR Y
Will Swachh
Bharat Mission Succeed? One year after its launch, the massive Clean India Mission continues to face myriad challenges – from infrastructure building and changing behaviour of people
A
s Swachh Bharat or Clean India Mission completes one year on October 2, it could be a good time to evaluate the progress the mission has made so far, and also the challenges that it faces. While government sources paint a buoyant picture of the mission’s progress, not all independent sources reflect the same account. However, the common ground at which all such accounts meet is the enormity of challenges that such a huge campaign faces in order to
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By Ashok Malkani accomplish what it has set to achieve within a period of five years. So making sweeping statements about its success or failure would amount to disrespecting the noble vision with which the mission was launched. And still, a progress report can highlight the direction to which the mission is headed. Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM), a major initiative of Government of India, aims to make the nation litter and open defecation-free by 2019. Its objectives envisage a complex set of
action that can be delivered through the fundamental instruments of social change: behavioral change and greater public awareness about the ill-health effects of poor sanitation and solid waste management (SWM), officials say. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched the programme on the Gandhi Jayanti day last year and in the 69th Independence Day address from ramparts of the Red Fort proudly announced achievements of the SBM and said toilets made and the situation
Sept-Oct ’15
C OV E R STOR Y was being closely monitored. Modi said that Team India - people from all walks of life whether they are celebrities, diplomats, social workers, educationists, community leaders or spiritual leaders or media – all of them have taken a major responsibility to train the common man without criticizing anybody and without pointing towards the lacunas and made the mission a success. He said the mission got maximum support from crores of youth in the age group of five, 10 and 15 and they became the greatest ambassadors of “Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan”. He said these children prevent their parents from littering in their homes and ask them to avoid spreading filth and rubbish here and there. In case, any father is addicted to consuming gutka and whenever he opens the windows of the car to spit, his progeny prevents him to do so on the plea of keeping India clean. The Prime Minister said it was his belief that such a country where children are so much aware, so committed towards cleanliness, is bound to become clean. Abhorrence against filth and dirt is bound to arise there. ‘’In 2019, we are about to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and on that occasion we have to hand over “Swachh Bharat” as a tribute. There cannot be a greater tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on his 150th birth anniversary,” Modi said. As the Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said Swachh Bharat Mission has been one of the major initiatives of the
government. While other initiatives are largely demand driven, this mission aims at creating demand for sanitary services and infrastructure and involves motivating people and sensitize them towards need for adopting right behavioral attitudes. Because of its unique nature, the Minister described SBM as the mother of all new missions launched by the Central Government. A Clean India, Naidu said, is the most profound statement that the county can make to the world which is keenly watching
it in the context of various initiatives launched during the last over one year. The Minister said that since the launch of the Mission in October last year by the Prime Minister, people across the country and age groups have been inspired by its philosophy and objectives and this is its major achievement. To f u r t h e r r e i n f o r c e a n d consolidate behavioral changes, an intensive campaign was also launched recently. It will continue till March next year to propel people into action for cleanliness and intensive cleanliness drive will be taken up in 11 thematic areas. The areas to be covered include agricultural and grain markets, religious and tourism places, educational institutions, resident welfare associations, under passes and fly overs, cantonment boards, water bodies and recreation places, hospitals, old cities and Government offices.
Bright Spots Based on reports received till August this year, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana have performed well in
Sept-Oct ’15
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COVER ST OR Y
Sources and Types of Municipal Solid Waste Sources
Typical waste generators
Components of solid waste
Residential
Single and multifamily dwellings
Food wastes, paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles, glass, metals, ashes, special wastes (bulky items, consumer electronics, batteries, oil, tires) and household hazardous wastes
Commercial
Stores, hotels, restaurants, markets, Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food wastes, glass, office buildings metals, special wastes, hazardous wastes
Institutional
Schools, government center, hospitals, Paper, cardboard, plastics, wood, food wastes, glass, prisons metals, special wastes, hazardous wastes
Municipal services
Street cleaning, landscaping, parks, Street sweepings, landscape and tree trimmings, general beaches, recreational areas wastes from parks, beaches, and other recreational areas
respect of construction of individual household toilets. As against the target of construction of 25 lakh household toilets in urban areas till March, 2016, construction of 16.45 lakh toilets has been taken up and 4.65 lakh toilets have already been built. Major states including UP, Bihar and Tamil Naidu are still to pick up momentum, said the Minister on the first anniversary of the SBM. According to him, toilet construction is still to begin in five UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Delhi and four North-Eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura besides Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
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Referring to the enthusiasm on the part of several states, Naidu said that over and above the central assistance of Rs.4,000 per construction of each toilet in urban areas, 13 states are providing additional assistance in the range of Rs.4,000 to Rs.13,000. Re g a rd i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n o f community and public toilets in urban areas, Government records say as against target of building one lakh toilet seats by March, 2016, construction of 94,653 toilet seats has been taken up and 24,233 seats have already been built and the rest is in progress. The Minister said Solid Waste Management is the largest component of the Mission in urban areas. He pointed out that till August this
year, 100% door to door collection of municipal solid waste has been reported in 31,593 of the total 78,003 wards in urban areas of the country and the mission is on course to achieve the target of door to door collection of 50% of solid waste by March,2016. Regarding solid waste, as against the target of processing of 35% of 1,42,580 tones of solid waste being generated every day in urban areas, 17.34% is being processed at the moment. On performance by some urban local bodies, Naidu said that Surat and Morbi in Gujarat have already met the Mission targets of construction of 6,634 and 3,028 individual toilets already. Ahmedabad and Mahisagar, also in Gujarat, are very close to
Sept-Oct ’15
C OV E R STOR Y meeting the Mission targets of construction of 22,562 and 3,028 toilets. In respect of solid waste management, Chandigarh leads the list of good performers with 100% processing followed by Meghalaya (58%), Delhi (52%), Kerala and Manipur (50%), Telangana (48%), Karnataka (34%) and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (30%). Ahmedabad (64 wards), Surat (38), Mahisagar (27) and Morbi (14 wards) in Gujarat and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (30 wards) have reported 100% door to door collection of solid waste. Under Swachh Bharat Mission in urban areas, construction of 1.04 crore household toilets and 5.28 lakh community and public toilet seats besides 100% door to door collection of solid waste and its scientific disposal are envisaged at a total cost of Rs.66,009 cr. The Ministry of Urban Development has so far released Rs.1.038. 72 cr to 30 States and Union Territories. UTs of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Daman & Diu, Dadra
& Nagar Haveli and Lakshadweep besides the state of Manipur are still to be released funds. Amid these developments, eyes are riveted towards cleanliness drives being undertaken even in remotest areas. From Prime Minister and State Chief Ministers to ministers and accompanied volunteers caught attention of the people as they embarked on symbolic cleaning with brooms. It set the tone and many joined the stream unfazed by critics who rubbish it as a drama. Many Ministries in the central government embarked upon their own program and the Railway Ministry drive on the mission came in sharp focus both for the achievements and lapses as aspirations of passengers swung upscale.
Challenges The Mission is in the centre of discussions almost every day. Recently, an anguished senior bureaucrat, in a sprawling Government complex, lamented that one of his close relatives died recently following an acute
intestinal ache. She could not get admission in any major hospital on account of flooded wards of dengue and other viral fevers patients in the Capital, smarting under threat of deadly viral fevers carried by mosquitoes breeding in wastes. Debates emerge that menace of such diseases, striking with ferocious annual regularity and taking toll of scores of human lives, could be combated effectively by initiatives like cleanliness and hygiene and mass awareness programs. “Imagine the quantum of its impact on human lives and strain on the country’s health system, if missions like Swachh Bharat would have not been launched. One may agree or disagree on the success and flops of such missions, but almost every day –during last one year, Swachh Bharat mission was debated and practiced ,’’ said a middle-aged class four employee who quoted instances of cleanliness drives in colonies and people’s involvement. Politics apart, things had moved. “One may agree or not - Swachh
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COVER ST OR Y Bharat is in circulation and is bound to leap forward by every passing year’’ the employee asserted. The recently-released national health profile warns of spread of such diseases and stresses need for cleanliness to face burgeoning challenges to the national medicare set up and strain it causes on economic architecture. During the past four years, 2010-14, as many as 820 people died of dengue alone and latest data of death and seizures are yet to be compiled. Medical experts say solution to such diseases lies in clean environment and people, getting aware of cleanliness, appreciate Swachh Bharat campaign. At many places, residential welfare societies (RWAs) were seen going for the cleanliness drives and purchasing fogging machines through personal contributions.
SBM Gaining Momentum Senior private sector employee, Sreedharan, hailing from Kerala, said the drive had picked up momentum in his state and now, municipalities are providing specifically designed tubes for degradable garbage which gets converted into manure in a stipulated period. Welfare bodies had sprung up during the year to collect nondegradable waste like plastic and pay back money to sellers of that “raddi” (waste) after recycling. Such practices, Sreedharan pleads, should be replicated in other parts of the country. “The task has just started, but I have to take it forward, not to stop it, not to get satisfied. When we started work, Team India figured out its responsibilities, we realized that
there were 262,000 such schools, where more than 4.25 lakh toilets were required to be built. This figure was so huge that any government could rethink to extend the deadline, but it certainly was the resolve of the Team India that no one sought any extension,’’ Prime Minister Modi noted. According to Modi, till August 15 this year, Team India has now nearly achieved the target of building all the toilets. He said it was not just an issue of building more than 4.25 lakh toilets. This is an issue of creating an atmosphere of self-confidence at a time, when ‘’we were so engulfed with the negativity that it was being told that nothing could happen, there was no hope, it was not possible. But now, the Team India has demonstrated that.’’ Latest figures reveal that more than 4.18 lakh toilets were made in 35 states and Union Territories to provide separate facilities for boys and girls in schools and work is underway in other parts.
Budget Basics The ‘Swachh Bharat’ campaign was launched with the objective of ensuring cleanliness and open defecation free urban areas in all 4,041 statutory cities by 2019. Estimated cost is Rs. 66,009 crore out of which
the Centre’s share is Rs.14, 643 crores. The national government has allocated Rs.14, 623 crore as a central share for the SBM in urban areas. In addition, a minimum additional amount of Rs.4 874 crore (as equivalent to 25 percent of GoI funding) will be contributed by the States/ ULBs share. The balance funds are proposed to be generated through various other sources. The State Governments and ULBs are expected to prepare City Sanitation Plans (CSPs) and State Sanitation Strategies (SSS) as per National Urban Sanitation Policy, 2008.
The Way Ahead Officials say the aims of the SBM describe a complex set of action that can be delivered through the fundamental instruments of social change: behavioral change and greater public awareness about the ill-health effects of poor sanitation and solid waste management (SWM). To institutionalize the change, the SBM prescribes capacity building for municipal officials and technical staff. Experts also suggest that the waste management crisis in India should be approached holistically. National and local governments should work with their partners to promote source separation, achieve higher percentages of recycling and produce high quality compost from organics. While this is being achieved and recycling is increased, provisions should be made to handle the nonrecyclable wastes that are being generated and will continue to be generated in the future. Recycling, composting and wasteto-energy are all integral parts of the waste disposal solution and they are complementary to each other; none of them can solve India’s waste crisis alone. Any technology should be considered as a means to address public priorities, but not as an end goal in itself. Finally, discussion on waste management should consider what technology can be used, to what extent in solving the bigger problem and within what time frame. (With inputs from Press Information Bureau)
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B U SINES S
Laundry:
No Dirty Business Are you looking for a business venture which does not require huge investment but brings a decent amount of profit? Look no further. The laundry industry may offer you a viable option By Ashok Malkani
W
hile washing dirty linen in public may not be civil, washing linen, per se, is not only good for the society but also highly profitable. If you are looking for business opportunity which can be managed with a minimal investment then laundry business may be a viable option. The laundry industry is just getting bigger and more quality-conscious. And to add to the upbeat mood, the industry has, globally, to some extent, has remained insulated from the devastating impact of recession. The reasons are simple.
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Even at hard times people can stop buying new clothes, but doing without washing is a strict no. In India, the laundry business is still at a take off stage but growing by leaps and bounds. More and more organized players are now entering this business, which they believe is set for a bright future. While the unorganized sector rules the roost, organized players are slowly making inroads into this fast growing industry. According to the estimates of A C Nielson, a market research firm, the country’s dry-cleaning and laundry
industry is approximately worth Rs 3,000-Rs 3,500 crores. Yes, this is the service industry where you may get your hands all dirty. But, the moolah you earn will help in quickly cleaning them up. Getting into the laundry service business is definitely a good bet as it is among the few businesses considered recession-free. With one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and a rising middle class, India holds the promise of good opportunities for laundry and dry-cleaning suppliers. When
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B USINES S one speaks of laundering, the general concept is that of a laundry serving the office goers and their families. However there is another aspect to this business: That of serving the hospitality industry and the hospitals.
Laundering for Hotels and Hospitals For those seeking to serve the hotel industry in keeping their linen clean there are ample opportunities. Abundant possibilities also occur in the health sector. “The lifting of trading quotas and India’s increasing popularity as a top-class business and tourist destination are bringing the right conditions for laundry to turn into a more profitable, better quality industry but big changes are needed,” said Bernard Jomard from Danube Laundry Equipment, which supplies several five-star hotels in the country, as well as a number of on-premise laundries (OPLs). One can try to meet the increasing demands from the hotels and hospitals who are, increasingly, outsourcing the cleaning of their linen and are looking for launderers who can meet their standards at economical rates. Most small and medium size hotels contract out their laundry, as it simply is not economical to do it themselves. The capital expenditure to get adequate machines to do it, plus the cost of staff to iron the linen could be prohibitive. Most hotels outsource their laundry cleaning to commercial launderer/dry cleaner. The practice of outsourcing laundry services in the Indian hospitality is not
of recent origin. With the growth fine dining restaurants, importance of their linen presentation has also grown. To manage the same, restaurants have also started outsourcing their laundry services to professional agencies. Many serious players in the hospitality industry including hotels and restaurants today feel that laundry outsourcing curbs maintenance costs and helps them focus on their core operational areas.
Laundry Business Set-up The cost of setting up a laundry business depends on several factors and you will have to conduct your own research to determine how much
money you will need to raise. There are various suppliers around the country that will be able to give you quotes on buying new or reconditioned machines. You could also consider leasing the equipment. The needs will be based on the kind of services you intend to offer and the size of the laundry you wish to set up. It is better to estimate the amount of space you will require on the basis of the number of machines you will install, estimated demand and the number of people you wish to employ. Please note that equipment, unwashed clothes and washed clothes will take up space. The location of your laundry business should have adequate space to house all the necessary materials and collaterals for ease of operations.
Precautions: Cleaning Hotel Linen Besides following the right procedure, five other factors impact the quality o f l a u n d r y c l e a n i n g – Wa t e r Quality, Agitation, Time, Chemical Concentration and Heat (WATCH). Among the six factors, procedures are considered the most important. There are typically ten steps in the linen flow cycle. If mistakes are made during those ten steps, the overall results may suffer. The first step in the linen flow cycle
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B U SINES S
is collecting soiled linen. People often make a number of mistakes during this first step. Often housekeeping staff would use soiled linens as a cleaning cloth. This abuse may add extra stains that were not present during normal use of the linen piece. You should not only sort these out but also examine the linen to check if there are any foreign objects – like needles, etc – that may affect the working of the cleaning machine. One has to take care of the dirty linen too. It must be transported in such a manner that it does not get further soiled. When linen is placed on the ground additional soils could be transferred to an otherwise stain free piece of linen. The next step is sorting. Sorting is the first defense of stain and soil removal. Many launderers can make their staining problems worse by not
pre-treating stains or by not sorting heavy soils from light soils. Some stains cannot be removed by regular washing in the machine. Pre treating a stain allows for longer contact time for soil removal with a specific chemical designed for a specific stain. By sorting the linens based on the classifications of light, medium and heavy soil you can minimize the chemical costs. While operating your washing machines, one important thing to keep in mind is proper water levels. There are automatic machines which sense the load and accordingly adjust water levels, but it is necessary for you to pay heed to maintenance of water levels and drainage system. Improper draining can cause improper rinsing leading to rewash. The workers must also be trained in proper use of chemical dispensing equipment. Using the
wrong wash formulas for linen may lead to rewashing, increasing your expenses in the process. Remember chemical dilutions are based on soil load and type of fabric. If you use these chemicals improperly they may damage linen or not clean soils effectively. Another major issue is monitoring of inventory levels for chemicals. No laundry should ever run out of product. A huge problem in the industry stems from employees not being trained on proper washer loading procedures. It is recommended the washers be loaded at an 80-85 percent capacity. When the machine is under loaded, the procedures are designed to exceed all facility costs. If the washer is over loaded, there will not be enough water or chemistry in the machine to handle soil removal. This will result in re-wash, which also increases all the costs associated with linen processing.
Removing Stains Stain is best removed at the first possible opportunity because it may be more easily dissolved when fresh. It may be mentioned here that different fibers require different methods and different stain removers. Use of an incorrect remover may damage or even destroy the fiber content of a fabric. Knowledge of the nature of the stain makes possible the immediate use of the appropriate method and removal agent. Hot water should never be used on
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B USINES S an unknown stain. The heat may set the stain, making it more difficult to remove. If the stain is known to be of a non-greasy nature, sponging with cold water may be all that is necessary. On the other hand, a greasy stain requires the use of perchlorethylene or some other dry cleaner, such as gasoline, turpentine, or denatured alcohol. There are several techniques for applying stain removers. They require care and are best applied when the stain is not too large. Sponging is a common method of stain removal, but if it is not done with care, it may not be effective. An absorbent cloth or a blotter should be placed underneath the stain to absorb the removal agent as well as
the stain. The blotter also prevents further spreading of the wet area. Both the sponging cloth and the absorbent material should be renewed whenever they show the slightest tinge of the stain. The stained portion of the fabric must not be soaked with the cleaning fluid, and the fabric must not be harshly rubbed.
Linen Care in Healthcare For the hospital sector special precautions have to be undertaken as their linen may contain blood and other harmful fluids containing dangerous pathogens. Majority of the linen from the hospitals is soiled and foul linen. For this, it is necessary for the washing process to have a disinfection cycle in which the temperature plays a major role. With both options, “Mixing time” must be added to ensure heat penetration and assured disinfection. For conventionally designed machines with a low degree of loading,
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appropriate time should be added to these times to allow for mixing time. For machines with a heavy degree of loading, it is necessary to increase add up time. When you buy the machines, check them to ensure that they have the specified programming ability to meet the required disinfection standards. See that the washing machines are fitted with accurate heat sensors. The sensing elements must be correctly placed to register the true wash temperature. Here are some tips which will enable you to clean and disinfect soiled and foul linen to the satisfaction of your clients: • A 65 degrees C temperature hold for a minimum of 10 minutes within the wash cycle; or • 71 degrees C for not less than 3 minutes. • Mixing time must be allowed to ensure heat penetration and assured disinfection. A sluice cycle must be
added in to the cycle when dealing with foul linen. Recommended treatment to ensure disinfection of infected linen • The same wash temperature profile as used for used (soiled and foul) linen is thought sufficient to inactivate HIV, but the evidence is less certain for hepatitis B. The wash temperature, coupled with the dilution factor, should render linen safe to handle on cycle completion. Treatment for disinfection of heat labile linen • These items need to be washed at ~40 degrees C, so the wash temperature is insufficient to disinfect, and chemical alternatives are required; • Addition of hypochlorite may be possible, but efficacy may be reduced by the presence of soiling, detergents and alkalis in the main wash; • Disinfection with hypochlorite is only reliable if the linen can tolerate its addition and if sodium hypochlorite is added during the penultimate rinse of the cycle; • A final concentration of 150 ppm available chlorine must be achieved for a minimum of 5 minutes exposure time. This information should suffice to let you clean the hospital laundry successfully. But you need to constantly update yourself in consultation with the hospital medical staff. Laundering of these two categories of linen – hotels and hospitals – could enable you to make a successful businessman. But it is your attitude which will help you win you clients. n
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CLEANING
Concrete Care Just because the floor is concrete does not mean it would not be spoilt with usage of wrong procedures or chemicals. So the first time you use any procedure even on your hard floor, test it first on an out-of-theway part of the floor to be sure it does not damage the flooring or finish
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oncrete is seeing renewed interest as a floor covering material because it demands very little maintenance. It has taken on a new upscale look that has caught the eye of interior designers and architects. As a result, designer concrete floors, walls and counters that are etched, pigmented, stamped, moulded, densified, or diamond-polished to a shine are available. It goes without saying that these surfaces are more expensive than ordinary and standard concrete, but are nevertheless very durable. Additionally, they require low maintenance and offer many new and interesting designs, appearance, texture and color choices thereby allowing individual tastes to be catered to. Concrete is a poured mixture of cement, water and aggregate (stone, sand or gravel) of various sizes. It acquires its strength and hardness as it cures and the moisture evaporates hydrates out of the mix. Although common gray concrete rates lower in overall appearance qualities than most other hard surface floors, its low cost and durability make it the most widely used floor covering in the world.
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Newly poured concrete must be kept moist during the first few days to weeks so it will cure (hydrate) properly. Complete initial curing of concrete may take up to a month or more depending on a number of factors. The same principle is followed in walls as well but flooring needs it more so, as in its absence, it may develop unsightly cracks very early. According to some experts, concrete never completely dries, as it continues to harden throughout its life due to the hydration process. This could well be one of the factors that allows concrete floors to cool very fast when they are hosed with water. Concrete may turn into powder if not protected with a durable penetrating sealer or finish; unsealed concrete wears under traffic, creating a fine gray dust that may become airborne. As a result, concrete flooring in public areas that attracts a lot of foot or vehicular traffic needs to be treated differently. Sealing a cement floor with a commercial sealer will save time and cost in the long run as the sealed floor would require reduced cleaning. Se a l i n g i s b e s t d o n e a f t e r construction cleaning, but prior to occupancy to avoid increased costs due
to the need for stain removal. Bare concrete is very absorbent and should be protected with plywood, cardboard or some type of breathable barrier during construction to prevent staining and damage. For the unsealed concrete floor, sweeping up the loose surface dirt and washing it with a strong all purpose cleaning solution would be the first step. Garage floors are more of a cleaning challenge as they soak up oil and grease and road dirt tends to drift in. People have learned from experience that something as simple as cat litter can be a big help. If you spread some around, it would absorb the oil and grease. Once the loose surface dirt has been removed, using heavy duty floor cleaner would work well and is cheaper than commercial heavy duty cleaner. Application to the floor is best done with a sponge mop using pressure for heavily soiled areas. Let the floor dry completely before allowing any vehicular entry or walking about too much.
Etching the Concrete Floor Often, a concrete floor will benefit from etching with a commercially prepared acid solution prior to coating
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CLEANING or finishing. This is done to clean the surface and neutralize any free alkali in the concrete, which can interfere with bonding of seals, paints, and epoxies that may be applied to the surface of the concrete. Some seals require etching, others don’t. If in doubt, check with the installer, seal, coating or floor covering manufacturer. In most cases, acid etching a concrete pad will help assure a tighter bond of the seal or coating to the surface. Etched concrete floor is also easier to clean and thereby more advisable for heavy traffic areas of public buildings.
Maintenance Cycle for Concrete Floor To clean any floor, there is the regular cleaning on a daily basis and furthermore the periodic cleaning which enhances the appearance and prolongs the floor life. Awareness of properties would help when caring for concrete floors: Daily Maintenance for Bare or Worn floors - Sweeping or vacuuming is most effective, followed by spot, damp mopping where visibly soiled. For Concrete Sealed floors - Sweep, vacuum and spot, wet or flood mop or even auto-scrub with a variety of cleaning solutions depending on soil conditions. Use a neutral floor detergent for daily care in most locations. Avoid the use of harsh chemicals such as a strong acid or alkaline cleaner on bare or damaged concrete floors. If a high alkaline or acid cleaner is needed due to soil condition, after cleaning, neutralize the surface with the opposite pH to return the floor to a pH of 7 (neutral), then rinse well with clear water and pick up with an auto-scrubber or wet vacuum. For periodic maintenance it could be scrubbed with a neutral detergent. Do not use acid based products for regular daily maintenance.
Lasting Finish and Shine For a prolonged shine and finish, apply one or two coats of a penetrating sealer to new or restored concrete floor surfaces. Topical coatings such as a urethane,
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acrylic or a polymer finish, paint or epoxy may also be applied to properly prepare concrete floors. Special coatings are available for use out of doors, where harsh weather and moisture may be present.
Stain Removal Scrub with a degreaser or powdered cleanser and a coarse, nylon grit brush or synthetic pad. Apply a commercially prepared poultice to remove spots and stains. Apply a dry, absorbent mix of diatomaceous earth (filter powder) 75 percent and cement 25 percent, brush it in to the surface and allow to dwell for one to two hours before removing with a broom and vacuuming the surface. To remove tar or equally offending chewing gum, freeze it to brittleness with ice cubes and then scrape it off with a spatula. To remove the tar stain, wipe with a cloth dampened with either a dry cleaning solvent or a formulated safety solvent. Routine caution needs to be adhered to when working with any chemicals, carefully read and follow the label directions for using that chemical, especially any cautions on safe use! With solvents, be very careful to have ventilation, and no flame or spark in the area! This becomes even more valid when the area being cleaned is covered and not in the open. Personnel must be cautioned and trained to do this without any risk. The first time you use any procedure on any floor, test it first on an out-ofthe-way part of the floor to be sure it does not damage the flooring or finish. Just because the floor is concrete
does not mean it would not be spoilt with usage of wrong procedures or chemicals. Benzene which is often recommended can ignite just from a spark from friction or rubbing. A reliable mix for cleaning is 1 part sodium citrate to 6 parts water and 6 parts glycerin. Add enough whiting or fuller’s earth to make a thick paste. Spread paste on oil or grease stain. Leave it for a few days, maybe a week. Add new paste when it dries. Finally flush with water after brushing dries the paste away. If it sounds like a human beauty treatment, rest assured it would also shine like a freshly scrubbed and massaged face!
Flagstone and Slate Floors These too are natural stone flooring materials that are similar. They have rough porous surfaces and are set into grout. These must be sealed with a commercial sealer and not lacquer or varnish. Once the sealer dries apply two thin coats of an acrylic floor finish or apply paste wax with a floor polishing machine. If you use a self polishing liquid, it will build up on your floor and you should occasionally strip the buildup and re-wax. Use a good stripper, rinse thoroughly and then apply wax. If you are using professional services, being aware of the procedure ensures that you can insist on proper stages of work. Water with a bit of fabric softener works wonders and if a freshly mopped floor dries with a luster dulling film, add a cup of white vinegar to water and mop again for glistening results. In fact the vinegar trick works even with linoleum floor that has been waxed. n
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PEST MAN AG EM EN T
Pest Control in Commercial Kitchens Strategic combination of different pest control methods can help control pest in commercial kitchens
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o ubiquitous are the pests that it is practically impossible to keep commercial kitchens completely free of some or the other types of pests. Therefore a single strategy to beat the pest menace may often fail. But a combination of different strategies may at least help control them, if not eliminating them altogether. And an effective application of multiple pest management strategies requires an understanding of different types of pests on the part of those in charge of the kitchen, be it of bakery, a food processing unit or that of a restaurant. They should also evaluate the economical and safe ways to controlling pests. In fact, controlling the pest in kitchen requires the cooperation of all the employees involved as each employee can advance the cause of pest control in kitchens and the associated areas. Therefore, the new employees should also be adequately educated about the pest management programme in place at the organisation and how he or she could contribute to that programme. The importance of pest control must also be underlined as food can act as a carrier of diseases caused by pests who have the unique ability to fit in compact spaces and survive in adverse conditions. The ‘many roads’ method is necessary in pest control because the pests vary in their shapes, sizes as well as in their ability to contaminate surroundings. This journey in the kitchen starts with adopting the best hygiene practices and other prevention techniques. But it’s not always a straight road and one may have to change course thereafter and eventually opt for mechanical and chemical control methods whenever required.
Common Pest Control Methods To control pest, one must first be able to identify them. It is important to know which pests harbour kitchens because there are some species of rodents, which are not found in other places otherwise. Pests found in kitchens are classified under rodents, cockroaches, flies,
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microorganisms like bacteria in foods stuffs and spiders. All these pests are different from each other in terms of their habits and therefore one single control treatment can hardly be effective. RODENTS or simply the house mouse, are amongst the deadliest of pests. They not only contaminate food but also disrupt the basic hygiene of a kitchen. Rats, very easily re-appear once the use of rodenticides is stopped under the impression that the kitchen is free from them. Therefore complacency must not seep in in checking them. Rats are not difficult to find because of their restless nature and the damage they cause to stored goods. They are fast and agile with a strong olfactory system and tremendous acrobatic skills. All these factors make it difficult for people to catch them. Moreover, they are generally very suspicious by nature and new rodenticides fail against them after using them for few times, as rats don’t come near them. However, applying a good combination of mechanical and chemical control methods, their population can be brought under complete control. FLIES or houseflies develop in warm moist environment. Their growth is faster near fermenting materials. Garbage, rotting vegetables, moistened dust flour or any place where water accumulates provides a good breeding condition for flies. A kitchen possesses all the abovementioned conditions; therefore it is always under the threat of infiltrating flies. Their rapid rate of reproduction is also a big problem in their control. Flies affecting kitchens are of more
than one variety: Fruit Flies are associated with material that is acidic or sour in taste; Metallic Colored Bottle Flies are found on dead mouse, bird or meat scraps, etc. In a bakery, flies are found in mixing room, ingredient scaling area, and dishwashing area. Areas where sugar, eggs, lard, grease, milk, etc. are handled should receive particular scrutiny. In cake and pie bakeries (where fruits are used) the fruit line and peeling rooms tend to offer conditions for breeding. Electric fly screen (Electrocutor) is one of the easiest ways to keep them away while mechanical measures are also effective. COCKROACHES are most resilient of kitchen pests. Their capacity to survive all kind of chemical and mechanical control is stronger than any other pest. Cockroaches have survived the ice age and they can keep themselves alive in the hottest and most inhospitable environment. The peculiarity about cockroaches is that unlike any other pest they are shy of light and humans. They rarely come out of their shelter during daytime. They strike after the shutters are down. Cockroaches never make shelters. They easily fit themselves in cracks and crevices in walls and floors. Chemicals have proven their potential against them but not completely. They maintain their effectiveness only when they are used regularly and are changed before the cockroaches develop resistance against a particular composition or type. They have unmatched resistance power and scientists believe they are potential survivors of post nuclear war era. Therefore, when it comes to cockroaches, prevention is the best cure. It is important to make sure that all food items are sealed along with the cracks, crevices and empty and unused idle gaps in the kitchens. SPIDERS are a different kind of pests. They do not infiltrate until and unless other pests like flies, cockroaches are present in the kitchen area. Nevertheless, they create situations, which will make a place suitable for their presence, as they are architect of capturing other pests with élan.
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P E S T M A N A GEMENT Spider’s cobwebs can be vacuum cleaned easily. Spiders such as the Brown Recluse, Black Widow and the Hobo Spider require immediate control efforts. These spiders should be controlled because their bites could have serious repercussions on us. Against MICROBES action, installing air conditioners and air purifying systems are recommended as good measures. These can restrict or minimise entry of microbes through air but strict sanitary practices should be enforced to prevent humans becoming a carrier. Uses of good antiseptic soap for hand cleaning and wearing a clean apron are also important.
Mechanical Barriers Mechanical measures can be used against all kinds of pests. For example, cages and traps for rats, electrocutors against flying insects and vacuum cleaner or broomstick against spiders can also be used.
Chemical Control They are available in the form of sprays, chalks and gases. Though they are more effective than the mechanical traps in cases of rats and cockroaches, using chemical sprays against flying pests should be done restrictively because of the volatility of chemicals and the pests’ ability to fly and
escape. Chemicals can kill flies immediately, but can’t restrict their entry completely. Fumigation is very effective against rats and cockroaches as it penetrates the most compact of areas including inaccessible holes. But chemicals should be used with precaution. It can affect the staff and can contaminate food kept in kitchen or indirectly through utensils. They can’t be used in kitchens or storerooms until and unless foolproof arrangements are not envisaged beforehand. Ultimately, it needs to be understood that the best way of pest management is always a combination of preventive methods, mechanical and chemical measures depending upon the situation of the concerned area. A successful pest management program includes pest-proofing, use of pest monitoring devices and judicious use of pesticides for control. Kitchen personnel should also keep a check from time-to-time, and report on the same to the concerned department for taking quick recovery steps. Maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of a kitchen is the first step towards pest management and acts as a precautionary measure. Any other measure, whether chemical, mechanical, etc., is secondary to it. n
Preventive Measures • Make sure there are no cracks in the doors or walls. All potential entry points must be taken care of. Use of silicone caulk to seal cracks and crevices in baseboards, moldings, cupboards, pipes, ducts, sinks, etc. can be useful. • Garbage should be stored in sealed packets and they should be cleared as frequently as possible. The garbage cans should be clean of food residue. • Keep ripe fruits in fridge. • Dishes must be cleaned at the earliest or at least they should be submerged in soapy water. • Any food spills must not be allowed to stay unattended for long and all food and beverage items outside the fridge must be properly stored in sealed containers. Kitchen should be clean and free from cooking grease and oil. • Blocking all sources of water for pests in very important. Therefore, besides fixing leaky plumbing, one must also see that standing water doesn’t accumulate anywhere. • Make sure that the kitchen is not very damp. • Screens on all floor drains, windows, and doors can be installed to discourage pests from entering the kitchen.
This sweetener can help you catch and kill more flies
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anaging the fly menace could be a lot easier as new research has found that a popular sweetener, which has been found safe as food additive for humans, can attract fruit flies and kill them. So unlike other pesticides which can cause accidental poisoning, the findings suggest that we may soon have an insecticide which is safe for human consumption. The study found that the non-nutritive sweetener, erythritol, may be an effective and human-safe insecticide. Erythritol, the main component of the sweetener Truvia, was toxic to Drosophila melanogaster fruit flies in a dose-dependent manner in the study, published in the journal PLOS ONE. The flies consumed erythritol when sugar was available and even seemed to prefer it. No other sweeteners tested had these toxic effects. Based on this discovery, the researchers are pursuing a patent on erythritol as an insecticide and are continuing to study its effectiveness. “I feel like this is the simplest, most straightforward work I’ve ever done, but it’s potentially the most important thing I’ve ever worked on,” said study senior author Sean O’Donnell from Drexel University in Philadelphia, US.
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Flies raised on food laced with erythritol lived for only 5.8 days on average, compared to 38.6 to 50.6 days for flies raised on control and experimental foods without the sweetener.
Erythritol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that is present in small amounts in many fruits. It has been tested in humans at high doses and found safe to consume; it has been designated as a generally recognized safe food additive by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration since 2001 and is also approved as a food additive in many other countries. And the new evidence that it is toxic to flies, which are drawn to its sweet flavor even when other foods are available, makes it a killer combination. It is particularly promising because it is safe for human consumption, unlike other pesticides that have
caused tragic accidental poisonings such as one that killed 23 school children in Bihar in 2013 after they consumed mid-day meal. Flies raised on food containing Truvia lived for only 5.8 days on average, compared to 38.6 to 50.6 days for flies raised on control and experimental foods without Truvia. Flies raised on food containing Truvia also showed noticeable motor impairments prior to their deaths. “Indeed what we found is that the main component of Truvia, the sugar erythritol, appears to have pretty potent insecticidal activity in our flies,” one of the researchers Daniel Marenda said. They found that the toxic effect did not come from stevia plant extract, which is present in both Truvia and the non-nutritive sweetener PureVia which was included in their experiments and had no toxic effect on the flies. “We are not going to see the planet sprayed with erythritol and the chances for widespread crop application are slim,” O’Donnell said. “But on a small scale, in places where insects will come to a bait, consume it and die, this could be huge,” O’Donnell noted. In this study published last year, the scientists did not confirm which insects erythritol might kill, other than fruit flies, or how its toxic effects take hold.
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LAUND RY
Dry Cleaning Versus
Wet Cleaning With concerns about the health effects of dry cleaning chemicals growing, new wet cleaning techniques promise a viable alternative. But can wet cleaning completely replace dry cleaning?
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s summer bids goodbye and winter slowly sets in, the need for dry cleaning clothes also goes up as most of the winter clothes generally come with a tag “Dry Clean Only”. But it is now widely recognized that certain chemicals used in dry cleaning can be harmful to our health. This is where the role of emerging wet cleaning techniques that promise delicate care of clothes without the harmful side effects associated with dry cleaning comes in. However, wet cleaning may not be appropriate for all clothes that need to be dry cleaned.
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So a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of dry cleaning and wet cleaning is warranted. Despite its name, “dry cleaning” is not totally dry. Dry cleaners put clothes into large machines and use a liquid solution of Perchloroethylene or some other solvent, with very little, if any, water. Once clean, the clothes are dried, shaped, and pressed. Tetrachloroethylene, more commonly referred as Perchloroethylene or PERC, is a man-made substance widely used for dry cleaning fabrics and textiles and for metal-degreasing
operations. Perchloroethylene is a clear liquid that has a recognizable odour. Although PERC is a liquid at room temperature, some of the liquid can be expected to evaporate into the air producing an ether-like odour; evaporation increases as temperature increases. Dry cleaners use PERC because it removes stains and dirt from all common types of fabrics and does not cause clothes to shrink, or dyes to bleed. PERC can be captured at the end of a wash cycle, distilled, and reused again. It is a cost-effective
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L AUNDR Y and efficient solvent for cleaning clothes.
Common Concerns The freshly dry-cleaned clothes with PERC bring headaches, nausea and an increased risk for cancer. Health effects associated with exposure to Perchloroethylene include depression of the central nervous system; damage to the liver and kidneys; and impaired memory, confusion, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, and eye, nose and throat irritation. Repeated dermal exposure may result in dry, scaly and fissured dermatitis. There is increasing evidence of human carcinogenicity. The uncontrolled use of PERC has the potential to cause widespread harm to the health of the workers working in drycleaning areas and the global environment. Because significant adverse health effects have been discovered, many countries have imposed stringent regulations for the control of PERC exposures and emissions. PERC has been a known animal carcinogen since the early 1990s, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found adequate evidence to classify the solvent as a possible human carcinogen. In 1995 the IARC classified PERC in group 2A, meaning that it is probably carcinogenic to humans. IARC also has classified dry cleaning in group 2B, meaning that it is possibly
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carcinogenic to humans. In December 1991, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began regulating PERC as a hazardous air pollutant under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act. Until the 1980s it was legal for dry cleaners to pour used PERC down the drain. Modern, closed-loop machines and innovations in vapour recovery equipment and other technologies have reduced occupational exposures and environmental emissions. However, many of the modern controls that have been developed are cost prohibitive, and some work practices are inadequate.
How to Avoid? Limit the amount of dry-clean. Learn which dry clean only garments can be safely washed by non-toxic methods. Get clothes cleaned at wet cleaning facility, when possible. If one get some clothes dry cleaned, take them out of the plastic bag as soon as it is opened and hanged them outside or in a ventilated area for a while before wearing them.
We t C l e a n i n g : A V i a b l e Alternative Wet cleaning is a method to clean garments that normally would have been cleaned in solvent. A range of techniques and technologies that use water as the primary solvent to clean clothes labeled dry clean only. Wet cleaning processes include computer-
controlled washing and dry machines and professional, labour intensive techniques which control factors, such as mechanical action and temperature, that can cause shrinkage. Wet cleaning became popular in Europe and the U.S. because of the strong environmental regulations restricting the use of solvents. Most techniques are similar as they all use specially formulated wet-cleaning soaps and spotting agents, (consisting of enzymes, peptides, synthetic polymers, and anionic and nonionic tensides). Wet cleaning does not pose any air pollution problems, is safe for workers and does not produce any hazardous waste. Several measures are used to reduce the risks of clothes damage, the main ones being the following: • Increased extraction of water prior to drying (The greatest risk to the garment occurs during drying); • Close monitoring of heat and moisture content during the drying process (moisture sensors control the fabric drying. Temperature in the drum should not exceed 60°C (140°F) for normal garments and 50°C (122°F) for sensitive garments); • Machines designed to insure low levels of mechanical action during washing through speed reduction and time limits. E s t i m a t e s va r y a s t o w h a t percentage of dry clean only clothes can be effectively cleaned using wet cleaning techniques. According to the research, wet cleaning is effective
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LAUND RY for 75-90% of dry cleaner’s business. Currently, there are several hundred companies in the US that clean all or some “dry-clean only” clothes using the wet cleaning method.
Are there problems linked with wet cleaning? Yes. One difference between water and solvents is that water tends to expand natural and cellulose fibers, while solvents do not change the fiber properties. When natural and cellulose fibers expand, they also wrinkle, lose their strength, shrink, and lose their shape. In general, the higher the synthetic content of the garment, the lower the risk of shrinkage through wet cleaning.
Benefits of Wet Cleaning • One of the major advantages of wet cleaning is the elimination of dry cleaning solvents, and their associated health and fire hazards. • Many soils are more easily removed with water than solvent. This is particularly true for watersoluble stains resulting from sugars, salts, drinks, body fluids, starch, milk, and most foods. • Wet cleaning may help to keep the white garments whiter. Sometimes white garments can be dulled when cleaned with recycled PERC or other solvents. • Wet-cleaned garments have a more pleasant smell when compared to the chemical odour associated with
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Toxins may remain in your clothes
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he clothes that you wear can retain certain harmful chemicals, tests conducted on 60 garments from Swedish and international clothing chains have found. An initial analysis found thousands of chemicals in the clothes and around a hundred chemicals were preliminary identified. Several of the substances were not on the producers’ lists and are suspected to be by-products, residues or chemicals added during transport. “Exposure to these chemicals increases the risk of allergic dermatitis, but more severe health effect for humans as well as the environment could possibly be related to these chemicals. Some of them are suspected or proved carcinogens and some have aquatic toxicity,” said Giovanna Luongo from Stockholm University. Depending on occurrence, quantity, toxicity and how easily they may penetrate the skin, four groups of substances were chosen for further analysis. The highest concentrations of two of these, quinolines and aromatic amines, were found in polyester. Cotton contained high concentrations of benzothiazoles, even clothes made from organic cotton. The researchers washed the clothes and then measured the levels of chemicals. Some of the substances were washed off, with a risk of ending up in aquatic environments. Others remained to a high degree in the clothes, becoming a potential source of long-term dermal exposure. It is difficult to know if the levels of these harmful substances are hazardous, and what effects chemicals in our clothes can have in the long run. “We have only scratched the surface, this is something that has to be dealt with. Clothes are worn day and night during our entire life. We must find out if textile chemicals go into our skin and what it means to our health. It is very difficult to assess and requires considerably more research,” Conny Östman, professor in analytical chemistry at Stockholm University noted.
garments cleaned in solvent.
Drawbacks of Wet Cleaning • Dry cleaning solvents do a better job of removing, greases, oils, waxes, and resins. • Garments made of wool, silk, and viscose rayon cannot easily be immersed in water because of possible garment damage from fiber shrinkage or bleeding of dyes. Most problem garments fall into one of the following categories: suit jackets with front fixing in the construction, coats, items with shoulder pads, and ornate clothing.
Wet cleaning appears to be a viable option to reduce the usage of dry cleaning solvents. However, the technology has not developed to the point where it can completely eliminate the need for dry cleaning solvents. Wet cleaning holds tremendous promise for the garment cleaning industry, the consumer and the environment The dry cleaning industry must understand that wet cleaning will play an important role in the future of the industry. As research continues, both in labs and in laundries, the technology will continue to evolve and improve. But the shift to wet cleaning is not simply a technical question. Most of the laundries rely on dry cleaning all around the world. (With inputs from The Laundry Alternative)
Sept-Oct ’15
Block Your Space for AAHAR, Delhi 15-19 March, 2016
Sept-Oct ’15
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WA STE MAN AG EM EN T
When Hotels Go Green With sustainable waste management practices, hotels can help conserve natural resources, cut operational cost and ensure repeat visits by ecologically conscious guests By Jyotismita Sharma
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early 80 percent of travelers worldwide today agree that implementing eco-friendly practices is important to their choice of lodging. But research has also shown that these ecologically conscious consumers are not so gullible that they would easily buy the “green” claims made by the hotels. In fact, if they find discrepancies in what the hotel claims and what it actually practices, then people with high environmental concern generally avoid paying a repeat visit to that hotel. For example, hotels that urge the guests to participate in linen reuse program but don’t keep recycling bins available risk losing patronage of an ecologically conscious guest forever.
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So the days of going green simply by placing a card saying “We are Green” are over. Today’s consumers evaluate eco-friendly claims of hotels on the basis of what they practice. In fact, many hotels have today realized that embracing the green practices not only make them responsible players in the industry, but also provides an edge over others in attracting the army of environmentsensitive guests coming from across the world and cut operational costs to a large extent, affecting their bottomlines in a remarkably positive way. Having a sustainable waste management program is vital to demonstrating effective green practices.
‘Green’ is the New Black The Ecotel hotels, be it The Orchid, Rodas and Meluha in Mumbai, The Uppal’s Orchid in New Delhi, the Beaumonde The Fern in Kochi and The Fern in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and Jaipur, along with a lot of other hotels in the country today believe that going green is a good idea as cut in waste generation and augmenting operational efficiencies will only help swell the coffers of the properties. “ Fo r h o t e l s , a g o o d w a s t e management strategy not only results in greater operational efficiencies but also helps keeping the property cleaner and the finances healthier as we encourage properties to earn from waste,” the Ecotels say.
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WA S T E M A N A GEMENT The Ecotel certification, managed by HVS Sustainability, is based on the range scope and result of the environment-friendly practices of the hotels across ‘The Five Globes’, or the five parameters: sustainability commitment, waste management, energy management, water management, and employee education and community involvement. The Raintree Hotel in the city centre of Chennai, which believes in saving through proper utilization of its resources, including water, has its focus on conservation of natural resources and providing trained staff and innovative, eco-conscious accommodations and services. As part of its innovative approach, the hotel has also installed a water saving device called the George Fisher concealed cistern, which uses only six liters of water per flush compared to the 15-20 liters in a conventional flush. To recycle the waste water, the hotel has put in place a sewage treatment plant. The treated water is then used in the air conditioners of the
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hotel. “The heat generated by the air conditioners in turn warms the water in the bathroom.” Floatel, an eco-friendly floating resort in Kolkata, has also successfully reduced the use of water per flush to six liters. It uses aerators and flow restrictions to reduce the flow of water. The hotel, a property of Manor Floatel Limited, Kolkata, recycles 15 kg of solid waste everyday through vermin-composting. For successfully implementing its 3R policy of waste
management – reduce, reuse and recycle - the hotel uses the 4 bin method in kitchen for segregation of garbage: Green Bin for recycled material; White Bin for dry garbagetin, bottle, juice bottle; Black Bin for wet garbage; and Red Bin for non recyclable garbage. One of the innovative initiatives of the hotel is the formation of a green team that has the responsibility of educating the hotel employees, guests and the local community on
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WA STE MAN AG EM EN T recycles the waste water for irrigation. Instead of boats operated by gasoline, the hotel uses battery operated boats. As the Taj Garden Retreat at Kumarakom is located near the Vembanad Lake in Karala, it treats the waste water before discharging so that the lake water does not get contaminated. And due to its proximity to the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, the hotel uses special lighting with reduced glare so that the animal life does not get disturbed.
Wealth from Waste
the importance of implementing the waste management practices. The guests in the hotel get to know about the eco-facts through the specially prepared ‘Save our Planet’ tent cards in the rooms. To make its waste management practices effective, the hotel also conducts eco-audits from time to time. In adopting innovative ways of waste management, the big players in Bangalore are not far behind. Hotel Lalit Ashok at Kumara Krupa road makes it a point to segregate the bio-degradable waste from the non-biodegradable wastes. It also has a vermin-compost unit within its premises so that the wet waste generated in the hotel can be composted. Among its dry waste, the hotel stores the recyclable waste separately and sells it as scrap. It also sells the unused cooking oil which can then be used for various purposes. Being a responsible and environment-conscious property, Hotel Lalit Ashok uses bio-degradable material in its floor mates and in all products possible. Since its inception in 2009, ITC Gardenia at Vittal Mallya Road has worked towards emerging as a zero solid waste hotel. Besides segregating the dry and wet waste, it also generates manure from its kitchen waste through an organic waste converter. The manure thus generated from the waste is then used as fertilizers in the gardens of the hotel. With its waste management mantra of ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ ITC hotels across the country takes active interest in eliciting participation
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from its employees and gusts in its efforts towards giving back to the environment. Hotel Leela Palace at Old Airport Road in Bangalore transports over two tones of wet waste that it generates to a poultry farm for feed and sells the dry waste for recycling. It recycles the waste papers for printing in-house reports. Wherever land is available, the Tata hotels convert the food waste and the dry leaves into compost and they make writing pads from the waste paper from printing. From the old bed sheets of the hotel, they make cotton napkins and linen bags. Pipe steel waste of the hotel is reused in barricades or in making safety railings. Besides the general waste management policy, the Tata hotels recognize the specific needs of a locality and therefore, every hotel has different focus so far as waste management and other environmentsensitive policies are concerned. For example, at Lake Palace, Ud a i p u r, a premier hotel in Rajasthan, the focus is on not affecting the lake water and the marine life of the lake. The hotel therefore
It thus emerges that the hotels that give priority to out of the box thinking and encourage innovation no longer consider waste management a burden. Instead, they consider, ironically though, the waste also as resource and have found ways to make use of it. Some have even realized savings in its resources and cost through the implementation of its innovative waste management practices. A few hotels, through its innovative approaches to waste management, have gone to the extent of helping the poor and the needy without adding any additional burden on their budget. Such innovative approaches to waste management that are in perfect harmony with the locality of the property help in the conservation of natural resources, cost cutting in operations and at the same time help the poor and the needy are the need of the hour. n
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WA S T E M A N A GEMENT
Eco-friendly practice or ‘greenwashing’? W
hile hotels across the globe are increasingly encouraging guests to embrace green practices, some hotels may be making just a show of going green or what is called “greenwashing,” a corporation’s deceitful practice of promoting environmentally friendly programs while hiding ulterior motives, says a study. The researchers found that greenwashing practices, such as a sign that reads “save the planet: re-use towels,” coupled with claims of corporate social responsibility, could cause hotels to lose valuable repeat customers. Writing in the Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Washington State University hospitality researchers Imran Rahman, Jeongdoo Park and Christina Gengqing Chi investigated the consequences of greenwashing in the lodging industry and suggested ways hotels can establish credibility in consumers’ minds. Their paper, “Consequences of ‘Greenwashing:’ Consumers’ Reactions to Hotels’ Green Initiatives,” comes at a time when as many as 79 percent of travelers worldwide agree that implementing ecofriendly practices is important to their choice of lodging. Research shows a majority are willing to boycott a company if misled. The researchers surveyed over 3,000 consumers to see whether recognizing a hotel’s hidden motive of profit caused them to be skeptical about the hotel’s environmental claims and if it influenced their intention to engage in a linen reuse program or to revisit the hotel. Since environmentally conscious guests
Sept-Oct ’15
are often willing to pay higher premiums for green hotels, the researchers also examined whether their sense of moral obligation would override skepticism and willingness to participate in a linen reuse program or revisit the hotel. Results indicated that recognition of a self-serving motive indeed made consumers skeptical and unlikely to participate in the green practice or revisit the hotel in the future. However, researchers found that consumers with high levels of environmental concern still felt morally obligated to participate in the hotel’s green initiative, despite realizing its greenwashing tendencies. “We were surprised to discover consumers with high environmental concern don’t have an ‘all or nothing’ attitude,” said Chi. “Our results showed when ecologically conscious consumers know a hotel is not truly green, they will still use the linen reuse program but they will not revisit the hotel.” In addition to recognizing self-serving motives, the researchers suggest several reasons why consumers may balk at believing hotels’ green claims. Chi said hotels that fail to integrate green practices throughout their establishment - for example, advertising a linen reuse program but not having recycling bins available might easily make consumers skeptical, especially if the consumer’s comfort is sacrificed in some way. Consumer skepticism also may build when hotels engage in simple practices, such as discarding disposable toiletry containers, changing the bedding and
towels less often or asserting they are green by simply hanging a sign that says they are green. Additionally, if consumers realize hotels have joined commercial green marketing and central reservation associations that don’t inspect the credentials of the applicants, they may view this action as unethical, deceptive or even corporate hypocrisy, said the researchers. The researchers suggest several steps hoteliers can take to develop a positive image of their hotel and reduce consumer skepticism. They said the single most important thing is to become certified by independent and credible agencies such as Green Seal and Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED), the two major certification programs in the lodging industry. “Having a comprehensive green program, certifications by independent and widely accepted green agencies and communicating the message to customers are key strategies hotels can use to appear more credible in the eyes of consumers,” said Chi. Additionally, the researchers suggest hotels use positive word of mouth to attract customers by posting favorable reviews on websites and social media channels and by training staff to follow the establishment’s green practices and be able to inform guests about them. “Today’s consumers are not always buying the green claims made by hotels,” said Chi. “It is imperative that hotels go the extra mile in integrating environmentally friendly practices to develop credibility in consumers’ minds,” Chi pointed out.
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IAQ
Why Mold Control is Important Adequate heating, ventilation and home maintenance can help reduce the presence of mould and its effects on asthma symptoms and other health hazards By Jyotismita Sharma
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the presence of several types of mold can lead to breathing problems in asthma sufferers, as well as increasing the likelihood of developing the condition. “Moulds are abundant in our outdoor and indoor environments, with around 10 varieties living in a typical home. We’ve found the strongest evidence yet of their potentially harmful effects, with higher levels of some of these moulds presenting a breathing hazard to people suffering from asthma, worsening
their symptoms significantly. It also looks as though mould may help to trigger the development of asthma although research in this area is still in its infancy,” one of the study’s lead authors Richard Sharpe from University of Exeter Medical School in Britain said. The team identified links between a number of different types of fungi and breathing problems in asthma sufferers, among them Aspergillus and the antibiotic-producing Penicillium. They also highlighted other factors
ackling the mold problem in a building is a key strategy to ensuring healthy indoor air quality. This is especially true in view of emerging evidence that presence of mold and dust mites can pose serious risks to our health. According to a new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, mold in homes could pose a significant health risk to people with asthma. By critically reviewing the findings from 17 studies in eight different countries, the researchers found that
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Sept-Oct ’15
that can contribute to the risk of asthma, including house dust mites, pets and chemicals. Characterized by typically high humidity, homes with poor heating and ventilation can be a haven for house dust mites and mould. According to a World Health Organization Report entitled WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality, “Dampness and Mould, Sufficient epidemiological evidence is available from studies conducted in different countries and under different climatic conditions to show that the occupants of damp or mouldy buildings, both houses and public buildings, are at increased risk of respiratory symptoms, respiratory infections and exacerbation of asthma. Some evidence suggests increased risks of allergic rhinitis and asthma.” “Exposure to mould and other dampness-related microbial agents increases the risks of rare conditions, such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis, allergic alveolitis, chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic fungal sinusitis,” the report added. Besides asthma and other respiratory problems, exposure to mould can also lead to lung diseases, according to another study. People who are exposed to mold in their homes could be at an increased risk for sarcoidosis, a chronic inflammatory lung disease.
Sept-Oct ’15
Moreover, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose and throat of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people, US Environmental Protection Agency points out.
How Molds Affect Us Molds are microorganisms that are found almost everywhere. Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet spot and begin growing. They can adversely affect our health as they produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions) and irritants and in sensitive individuals, inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions, including hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash. “Microbial growth may result in greater numbers of spores, cell fragments, allergens, mycotoxins, endotoxins, beta-glucans and volatile organic compounds in indoor air,” the WHO report said. “An excess level of any of these agents in the indoor environment is a potential health hazard,” the report noted.
Main Triggers Presence of water on interior surfaces or building structures could be regarded as the biggest trigger for mold growth. Thus dampness and
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IAQ
presence of moisture are major factors affecting the growth of mould inside homes. “The amount of water on or in materials is the most important trigger of the growth of microorganisms,
including fungi, actinomycetes and other bacteria,” the report said. It noted that the prevalence of indoor dampness varies widely within and among countries, continents and climate zones. “It is estimated to affect 10–50% of indoor environments in Europe, North America, Australia, India and Japan. In certain settings, such as river valleys and coastal areas, the conditions of dampness are substantially more severe than the national averages for such conditions,” the report said. Besides water leaks, heavy rain and flooding, most moisture enters a building in incoming air, including that infiltrating through the building envelope or that resulting from the occupants’ activities.
Mold Control Mold growth is a problem which has been on the rise as ageing houses are sealed and retrofitted with new energy efficient technology. Yet we currently know very little about how people’s living habits can contribute to indoor air quality, and ultimately affect their health. This Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology study mentioned in the beginning highlighted the need for homes to have adequate heating, ventilation and home maintenance all factors that will help to reduce the presence of mould and its effects on asthma symptoms. Fixing plumbing problems and resolving all water-leak related issues is also important to avoid the mess of mold growth. n
Common plants can eliminate indoor air pollutants
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ir quality in homes, offices, and other indoor spaces is becoming a major health concern, as many people often spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors. Surprisingly, indoor air has been reported to be as much as 12 times more polluted than outdoor air in some areas. Indoor air pollutants emanate from paints, varnishes, adhesives, furnishings, clothing, solvents, building materials, and even tap water. A long list of volatile organic compounds, or VOCs (including benzene, xylene, hexane, heptane, octane, decane, trichloroethylene (TCE), and methylene chloride), have been shown to cause illnesses in people who are exposed to the compounds in indoor spaces. Acute illnesses like asthma and nausea and chronic diseases including cancer, neurologic, reproductive, developmental, and respiratory disorders are all linked to exposure to VOCs. Harmful indoor pollutants represent a serious health problem that is responsible for more than 1.6 million deaths each year, according to a 2002 World Health Organization report. Stanley J. Kays, Department of Horticulture, University of Georgia, was the lead researcher of a study published in HortScience that tested ornamental indoor plants for their ability to remove
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harmful VOCs from indoor air. According to Kays, some indoor plants have the ability to effectively remove harmful VOCs from the air, and not only have the ability to improve our physical health, but also have been shown to enhance our psychological health. Adding these plants to indoor spaces can reduce stress, increase task performance, and reduce symptoms of ill health. The ability of plants to remove VOCs is called “phytoremediation”. To better understand the phytoremediation capacity of ornamental plants, the research team tested 28 common indoor ornamentals for their ability to remove five volatile indoor pollutants. “The VOCs tested in this study can adversely affect indoor air quality and have a potential to seriously compromise the health of exposed individuals,” Kays explained. “Benzene and toluene are known to originate from petroleum-based indoor coatings, cleaning solutions, plastics, environmental tobacco smoke, and exterior exhaust fumes emanating into the building; octane from paint, adhesives, and building materials; TCE from tap water, cleaning agents, insecticides, and plastic products; and alpha-pinene from synthetic paints and odorants.”
During the research study, plants were grown in a shade house for eight weeks followed be acclimatization for twelve weeks under indoor conditions before being placed in gas-tight glass jars. The plants were exposed to benzene, TCE, toluene, octane, and alpha-pinene, and air samples were analyzed. The plants were then classified as superior, intermediate, and poor, according to their ability to remove VOCs. Of the 28 species tested, Hemigraphis alternata (purple waffle plant), Hedera helix (English ivy), Hoya carnosa (variegated wax plant), and Asparagus densiflorus (Asparagus fern) had the highest removal rates for all of the VOCs introduced. Tradescantia pallida (Purple heart plant) was rated superior for its ability to remove four of the VOCs. The study concluded that simply introducing common ornamental plants into indoor spaces has the potential to significantly improve the quality of indoor air. In addition to the obvious health benefits for consumers, the increased use of indoor plants in both ‘’green’’ and traditional buildings could have a tremendous positive impact on the ornamental plant industry by increasing customer demand and sales.
Sept-Oct ’15
H E A LT H & SAFETY
Preventing Back Injuries Y ou are carrying a container of chemicals or you bend over slightly to check a pressure gauge, or you are doing something as simple as pumping the brakes on the truck, and suddenly you experience discomfort. It may just be a little twinge in the lower back, or you may feel a burning sensation across your back with pain running down your leg. If you have experience something like this you have just joined the ranks of those who suffer from the most common work related job injury — a back injury. Today, ranked as the second most common source of pain after headaches, back pain is experienced by about 80% people during their lifetime and is the number one leading impairment in occupational injuries. While the majority of the problems clear up by themselves, as much as 20% of all back pain suffered is chronic. Low back pain is the leading cause of disability between the ages of 19 – 45.
Safe Lift Guidelines Although there is no research data available about the percentage of back related injuries within the pressure cleaning or water blasting industry, no one would dispute how vulnerable workers in this field are to these problems. Whether the strains and sprains are the result of carrying, lifting, lowering, twisting, pushing or pulling equipment and material, or from having to stand in awkward positions or bend over a great deal, the injuries can quickly disable a
Sept-Oct ’15
person even if for only a few days. Most people are familiar with the safe lift guidelines — bending the knees, hugging the load, allowing the strong leg muscles to do the work. However, some loads do not permit this standard lift technique. When lifting and carrying long loads that are light, material should be supported on the shoulder, keeping the back end of the object lower than the front end. If the load is heavy, two people should carry the object keeping in step, with each person shouldering it on the same side to keep it level. Overhead loads prove more challenging. Be certain to use a stepstool or ladder to get the load at shoulder level. When descending, draw the load close and keep it close to the body. If possible, hand the load down to a co-worker. One of the most challenging situations occurs when reaching into a container or bin. While the
standard approach cannot be used, there are some tips to follow. First, stand with feet shoulder distance apart and with knees slightly bent. Then start to squat, bending at the hip joint, not the waist. Slide the load as close to you as possible, then rise up using the leg and hip muscles. Finally, tighten the stomach muscles as you lift. Whatever you do in all of these situations, avoid extending your upper body to lift a load. Doing so you’ll not only lose your center of balance, you’ll also risk injuring back. Planning, changing how work is done and training properly can reduce injuries. Follow a few tips: • Cut down on carrying. Have materials delivered close to where they will be used. • Store materials at waist height. • Raise your work to waist level, if possible. • Make sure floor and walkways are clear and dry. Slips and trips are a big cause of back injuries. • Take rest breaks. When workers get tired, they have a better chance of being injured. • Use carts, dollies, forklifts, and hoists to move materials. • Use carrying tools with handles to get a good grip on wallboard or other odd-shaped loads. • Lift and lower materials in a smooth steady way. • Lean on something or someone when lifting materials up off the ground. Also kneel on one knee and pull the load up onto the knee instead of bending over. n
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PRODUCT PREVIEW
Carpet Cleaning Made Easy Keeping carpets and upholstery cleaned in constricted space can be a big worry. Not anymore, as Kärcher has come up with a machine which is particularly suitable for hygienic and effective cleaning of small to mediumsized areas. Called Puzzi 10/1, the machine is perfectly suitable for everyday use. With one bar spraying pressure, the spray extraction ensures a gentle deep cleansing of textile fabrics. Thanks to the narrow floor nozzle and flexible suction lips, the device offers an easy way out to clean cluttered areas. The spray extraction is equipped with an integrated cable hook and a fixing for hand tool and suction tube. It helps in keeping floor coverings, upholstered furniture, and office chairs clean. Suitable for all textile surfaces, the Kärcher spray extraction can loosen and remove dirt in a single operation. Karcher Cleaning Systems Private Limited clean@karcher.in
Make Deep Cleaning an Easy Ride D e s i g n e d t o c u t yo u r cleaning cost, a new ride on scrubber drier model launched by Aman Cleaning Equipments could make deep cleaning of large areas (up to 3200 sqm) an easy ride. Suited for maintenance cleaning, the A 12 model comes in a very compact size and offers great maneuverability like walk behind models. The model bears 32 kg of constant pressure on the brushes. Its double counter rotating brush (66 cm of scrubbing width) obtains better stability and constant pressure. With the possibility to use four batteries, the machine offers great working autonomy till 4-5 hours. The large load tank capacity (real load of 75 litre), results in reduced numbers of stops and maximum use of battery for effective operation of the machine. The steering wheel comes with new design and user-friendly controls and digital display. The rider comes with automatic detergent measuring system on request and its automatic features also stop brushes and detergent water outflow when the machine is stationary. Aman Cleaning Equipments Pvt. Ltd. info@amancleaningequipments.com
Miraclean’s New Scrub-O-Mop
Wizard Floor Cleaner
Miraclean Tools Pvt. Ltd, has come up with its first ScrubO-Mop. It can scrub, or serve the purpose of a dry dust mop. Just stick the scrubber pad on a PP frame and you can use it as a scrubber. It can also be utlised for scrubbing the floor with water and floor cleaners. The equipment can be fixed with a dry dust mop control and it will be ready to wipe the floors clean. It can also be fixed with the scrub-o-mop refill to serve the dual purpose of scrubbing and mopping together. While the Nylon Alox scrubber slab in the middle of the dry mop scrubs the floor and removes the stick hard material (dirt, gum, etc.), the four side cover microfiber filaments collect the mobile dirt. During mopping, the special filament, according to the company spokesperson, produces static energy and attracts minor dust particles. Miraclean Tools Pvt. Ltd. miracleantools@gmail.com
Quartz Home Care’s (QHC) Wizard Floor Cleaner is a product which is being used by most of the leading institutions for day-to -day cleaning and disinfection. The product has lime fresh fragrance and is capable of destroying germs and bacteria at the source. Wizard has been upgraded with innovative raw-materials which are sourced from various countries across the globle. Being multipurpose and very safe, nonacidic and nontoxic, this product can be used for cleaning of any type of floors, laminated surfaces, plastics, etc. without defacing or destroying the originality of surfaces. Available in user-friendly packings, Wizard has two variants; low-foam for machine use and regular for manual use. The product is also reasonably priced. Quartz Home Care qhcindia@gmail.com
The information published in this section is as per the details furnished by the respective manufacturer/distributor. In any case, it does not represent the views of Hammer Publishers Pvt. Ltd.
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Sept-Oct ’15
BUS INE S S O P P O RT U N I TY
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INTE RVIE W
‘Guest Satisfaction Depends on Housekeeping’ By Sharmila Chand
If emotional attachment to work is regarded as a yardstick to measure an employee’s commitment, Preeti Thakur, Executive Housekeeper at Kempinski Ambience Hotel, Delhi, would come off with flying colors. For, with over 15 years of experience in the hospitality industry, Thakur, in her own words, is in love with every aspect of her job that involves controlling all housekeeping operations in the property, including staff management which is regarded as a serious challenge in the industry. Before joining Kempinski Ambience Hotel since its pre opening in 2012, Thakur had worked for The Pullman Gurgaon, The Leela Ambience Gurgaon Hotel & Residences, and Oberoi Hotels and Resorts, among others. A pro in preopening, she is known for her attention to detail, and expertise in strategic and resource management. Excerpts from an interview: How important in your opinion is housekeeping to hospitality?
Excellent housekeeping is essential to the hospitality industry, even though the work is usually considered mundane. Housekeeping is the department that determines to a large extent whether guests are happy during stay, thereby influencing the possibility of their return to the hotel. What is the modus operandi of housekeeping operations at your hotel?
We believe brand loyalty can be truly achieved by identifying the guest profile, anticipating their unspoken needs and delivering the same. We exceed guest expectations by offering the best of our service and products to our guests with a blend of the European flair and Indian flavor, while maintaining interactive but responsible communication with them. The key focus areas of our housekeeping operations are -- exceptional service from check in till check out; taking ownership of our areas; quality with consistency; and focus on increasing the number of happy and satisfied guests for long-term association. What are the new trends in housekeeping? Please comment on the latest housekeeping scenario.
Among the emerging trends that have influenced housekeeping, green practices adopted by the department deserve special mention. With the hotels participating in Earth Hour, or World Environment Day, we, as housekeepers, do our bit by
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emphasizing environmental policies in daily briefings. Guests are also encouraged to contribute by participating in towel reuse programs. Another important trend is adoption of new technologies, especially information and communication technologies in housekeeping operations. With simple use of software, room attendants know the task at hand and supervisors can monitor their work on a touch pad. A dash board at the housekeeping can now give you the information on the status of rooms and the positioning of the room attendant at any point of time. Front office can also access the status of rooms and can priorities rooms for guest allotment. The growing use of the wonder fabric “microfiber” is another important trend. Although it is currently highly priced, this material is very effective and highly durable. It is also observed that turndown service in hotels is getting more competitive and therefore standards are rising. The focus on ergonomically correct way of making beds, clean bathrooms etc. is also growing among housekeepers as also the challenge of motivating outsourced housekeeping team. Please name any one tool which has made the operations much easy?
Software like Triton, Hot Sos has made the job much easier by reducing the paperwork for inventories, planned preventive maintenance and cleaning schedules for public area and guest rooms. How much of an emphasis does
the hotel place on training?
Housekeeping is considered as one of the key departments which is responsible for the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of a guest. So most of the hotels have training programs like train the trainer, on the job training for a new employee with a buddy for 2-3 weeks and monthly departmental training calendar based on the specific needs of the team members. Few hotel chains like us also have online training programs like Lobster ink for operational departments. This education platform is simple yet powerful, and contains detailed high-definition video lessons and online assessment tools. What elements do you take into account to recruit staff?
When we recruit any housekeeping staff we look for pleasing personality, good communication and positive attitude. What is the role of the housekeeping staff in the context of security?
We always tell our team that they are the eyes of the hotel as we are present in all parts of the hotel from main porch of the hotel till the roof of the hotel. Attention to detail and observing anything suspicious in any part of the hotel are the part of daily responsibilities of any housekeeping team member. What are the challenges you have to face in your job responsibilities?
The biggest challenge most of us as housekeeper face today is keeping our team consistently engaged and motivated all year round while providing them with sufficient support.
Sept-Oct ’15
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