A WELLINGTON hostel that encourages its guests to recycle their unwanted clothing and boasts more than 250 energy-saving features has just won another major award.

Youth Hostel Association Wellington City has won the Trailblazer Not for Profit Award in this year’s Sustainable Business Network (SBN) awards, having won the same category in 2007 and a judges’ commendation in 2006.

“I put it down to our staff and the way we handle our team, because they’re the ones who come up with the ideas,” says manager Chris Sperring.

One of those was to put recycling bins on each floor and include batteries and unwanted clothing with the items able to be recycled.

Guests can leave or take what they please from the unwanted clothing bin and the rest go to charities such as St Vincent De Paul.

“It’s the best thing we’ve done,” says Mr Sperring.

The premises have more than 250 energy-saving features, ranging from a heat recovery system to reflectors in light fittings.

SBN chief executive Rachel Brown says Trailblazers are business heroes who are not afraid to take sustainability head-on.

“They’ve seen the benefits for their bottom line and are making it happen,” says Ms Brown, whose organisation awards those in their network that actively integrate principals of sustainability into their day-to-day operations.

YHA Wellington City was the first business in New Zealand to launch the Love NZ recycling in public places initiative.

Mr Sperring is working on finding someone to fill the newly appointed role of co-ordinator for a strategy called the Green Footprint Project, which encourages guests to buy plants to offset the environmental impact of their travels.

The project has seen more than 3000 native trees and shrubs planted in the last three years.

YHA’s national office received a judges’ commendation in the Trailblazer Not For Profit category.

YHANZ is committed to pursuing sustainable business practices and have implemented a number of sustainability initiatives that are now part of their minimum standards.

Lonely Planet says YHA Wellington City is an “all-round winner with stellar facilities”. It was voted best hostel in Oceania by Hostelworld users in 2006 and 2007.

PICTURE: Manager Chris Sperring with one YHA Wellington City’s many Love NZ recycling boxes.