Sustainability

When it comes to sustainability, Anthony’s Key Resort doesn’t just talk the talk. Protecting Roatan’s natural resources is one of the most important parts of our mission here. From our internal policies to our educational programs, we aim to do all we can to protect our ecosystem and maintain our status as a sustainable destination. In addition, we support several local and international organizations in their conservation efforts. Learn more about our practices below as well as how you can become part of our conservation program during your next stay.

An addition to our sustainable efforts continued in the spring of 2020. The installation of solar panels converts Roatan’s most abundant resource, sunshine, into clean, green, renewable energy for the resort during the daytime! The estimated output of the grid-tied solar system is over 300 kWh, enough to power the resort in the daytime and when the sun is shining! The remaining energy is sourced from the Roatan Electric Company (RECO), which in addition to the wind and solar, uses generators that are fed by propane gas, which is considered clean combustion. The resort relies on diesel-generated power on the property for backup.

The new solar field is one of the first things guests see when driving into the property. The panels are installed in what was once AKR’s paved tennis courts that have not been in use since the late 1980s. The old tennis courts served as the perfect location for mounting the solar panels, as it’s location is near the resort, large, and the majority of the area was clear of vegetation. This new solar system will be the largest privately-owned solar installation in the Western Caribbean, with an annual energy production of 534,000 kWh and a reduction of 378 metric tons of CO₂.

In 2016, along with the Roatan Institute for Marine Sciences, we implemented the coral nursery program. With the help of some incredible guests, we have been able to “rehome” corals that had been broken or fragmented naturally using artificial coral trees. Already, we’ve seen the fragments more than triple in size, creating new and healthy coral structures. These structures are maintained by visiting university groups and volunteer guests, giving our coral trees the best chance to thrive and grow. We also offer a course focused on coral reef conservation, which educates guests on the complexity of these habitats and how anyone can help conserve these vital systems.

Anthony’s Key Resort has been certified as 100% AWARE in accordance with PADI’s environmental initiative called Project Aware. This certification means that we regularly participate in underwater clean-ups of the Roatan area and that we encourage our guests to do the same. We also offer the Project Aware specialty course to all of our PADI-certified guests. This class educates visitors on the many ways that divers can help protect the ocean each time they go out.

Single-use plastic items are not purchased by or sold at the resort. That means that you won’t find plastic bags, bottles, coffee stirrers, straws, or any other common single-use plastic items here. These items are the most significant contributors to the eight million metric tons of plastic waste that impact our oceans each year. We ask our guests to carry a reusable water bottle or to drink from a cup. The water throughout the resort is treated and safe for consumption, and we provide filtered water fountains throughout the property. At the bar, we offer stainless steel straws and paper straws.

To further reduce single-use plastic, we equip all guest room baths with bulk dispensers for liquid bath amenities, which housekeeping refills from larger containers. This initiative was implemented in the year 2012 to help minimize the waste associated with individually packaged bath amenities commonly used in hotels around the world.

Every day, millions of gallons of water are used to wash towels and sheets which have been used only once. As part of our commitment to reducing our consumption of water and electricity, we change bed linens and towels every third day and again upon check-out. We also ask our guests to reuse towels during their stay at the resort. We know that small changes like these can have significant results in the long-term.

We understand the connection between proper wastewater systems, the environment, and our reefs.  From each bungalow and building at Anthony’s Key Resort, wastewater is collected in a series of self-contained tanks. From each tank, wastewater is pumped to a Bio-Microbics plant.  The Bio-Microbics plant has three chambers, one each for settling, aerobic treatment, and clarification. Wastewater in the aerobic portion is pumped with bacterial media and the treated water, rich in nitrogen and phosphorous, is used to irrigate the gardens on the property.