The Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ) is highlighting its commitment to environmental sustainability in commemoration of Earth Day, to be held this Monday, April 22, 2024. The trade group highlighted that Atlantic City casinos, in partnership with various organizations and local authorities, are working to protect and preserve the local ecosystem through a variety of initiatives.
“The Atlantic City casino industry is focused on building a more sustainable future. It is vital that we help to protect the natural resources that make our oceanfront resort destination unique and valued to residents and visitors alike,” said Mark Giannantonio, President of the Casino Association of New Jersey (CANJ).
“From beach clean-ups, and shell recycling to solar panel installations, our collective efforts are reducing our carbon footprint and helping to safeguard the environment that we all care so deeply about,” he added.
Mark Giannantonio
Employees from each of the casinos showcased their commitment to the coastal community through efforts to keep their beaches clean and marine life healthy, noted the association. Properties participated in beach cleanups, and Borgata Hotel & Casino Atlantic City, Resorts Casino Hotel, and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City also participated in the NJDE Shell Recycling Program.
Borgata and Caesars Entertainment‘s Atlantic City Resorts focused on energy efficiency through increased use of LED technology and for Caesars, a 6.5 MW solar portfolio. Meanwhile, Hard Rock partnered with The Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City and donated to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, and Caesars engaged local students to participate in a carbon reduction contest program through the National Park Trust.
Below is a list of sustainability efforts led by each Atlantic City property:
Bally’s Atlantic City
To commemorate Earth Day, Bally’s Atlantic City will plant a tulip tree, a symbol of rebirth and renewal, which will bloom annually. “Our dedicated team will be undertaking a thorough garden cleanup and preparing for the arrival of spring after a long winter. We are committed to promoting environmental stewardship and are excited to contribute to the beautification and sustainability of our surroundings,” the company said.
Borgata Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
NJDE Shell Recycling Program
Borgata has an ongoing partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and has joined the NJDE Shell Recycling Program. “Discarded shells from seafood dishes served throughout our restaurants are collected, cured, and placed in the Mullica River to enhance the oyster reefs by rebuilding marine habitats. This process benefits the ecological health of New Jersey’s coastline waters,” Borgata explained.
Water Conservation Programs
Borgata converted their fountains into large floral displays and modified landscaping to more of a hardscape, reducing water usage.
Energy Reduction Programs
Borgata recently converted their original neon and fluorescent lights to energy-efficient LED lights across the property.
Recycled Kitchen Grease
Borgata continues to provide their recycled kitchen grease year after year supporting Kraly Farms. In 2022, Kraly recycled 630 drums which are 31,500 gallons of recycled kitchen grease from Borgata.
Borgata April Earth Day Events
Walking Path Clean-Up took place on Wednesday, April 17
Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City Resorts
Beach Cleanup – Monday, June 3
Caesars, Harrah’s Resort and Tropicana Atlantic City’s Table Games Team Members will host a beach cleanup on Monday, June 3 from 1-4 p.m. in front of Caesars.
Buddy Bison Trip
This year, through the Caesars Foundation, Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, and Tropicana Atlantic City collaborated with the National Park Trust to celebrate a decade of the Buddy Bison Carbon Reduction Contest program. Together, Caesars and the National Park Trust inspired students from the Richmond Avenue School to reduce their carbon footprint through initiatives like recycling and water conservation, fostering awareness of impactful measures against climate change.
From November – February, the students competed among schools around the country, finishing in second place for the 2023-2024 program. As a result, the Richmond Avenue School students reduced their carbon footprint by 4,065 pounds of CO2 – the equivalent of planting 185 trees or turning off all of the electricity in their school for three months. The students also saved 6,068 gallons of water and 924 plastic water bottles from entering a landfill.
Tropicana Atlantic City Garage LED Conversion
Tropicana Atlantic City is on its way to completing the fifth out of five garage lighting conversions to all energy-efficient light-emitting diode (LED) technology, which uses at least 75% less energy and lasts 25 times longer than incandescent lighting. The switch to LED technology will help Tropicana reduce its CO2 emissions. The last phase of the two-year project is expected to be finished by year’s end.
6.5 MW Solar Portfolio – Caesars & Harrah’s Resort
In 2023, Caesars Entertainment’s Atlantic City properties and DSD Renewables completed a four-canopy, 6.5 MW solar portfolio. The installations are at Caesars and Harrah’s Resort and will produce approximately 8.29 MWh of clean energy each year. A fifth canopy is currently under development and is slated to be complete in 2024 bringing the solar portfolio to 7.4 MW.
These solar projects will offset approximately 6% of its energy needs for the resort properties in the area, taking the energy load off the utility and making energy resources available for other customers. The project will also help support New Jersey’s clean energy objectives which align with Caesars’ goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City
Save the Planet
On Saturday, March 23 at 8:30 p.m., Hard Rock Atlantic City participated in Earth Hour 2024 by “going dark” in certain outlets for 60 minutes without electricity. Earth Hour activities at the resort included a candlelit dinner at Kuro and dark hour at Rock Spa & Salon.
Earth Day efforts will expand into April with several initiatives with local organizations including the Marine Mammal Stranding Center, Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City, and New Jersey Marine Resources Administration Shell Recycling Program. Team members will also participate in a beach cleanup on Atlantic City Beach.
Hard Rock Supports the Boys & Girls Club Garden in partnership with Reed’s Farm
On April 22, Hard Rock Atlantic City team members will volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City to tend to their thriving garden. Fruits and vegetables grown in the garden space, which has been carefully curated through a partnership with A Meaningful Purpose at Reed’s Farm, are used directly in the teen center’s kitchen and help teach hospitality students valuable job skills while feeding all Boys and Girls Club participants.
Hard Rock Donates to Marine Mammal Stranding Center Fundraiser and Beach Cleanup
Throughout April, Hard Rock Atlantic City team members will be raising funds for the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, N.J. As the only seal hospital in the state, the organization is responsible for all 1,800 miles of the New Jersey coastline.
Funds raised by Hard Rock Atlantic City will be put toward the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine mammals and sea turtles. Hard Rock Atlantic City team members will also participate in a beach cleanup in Atlantic City on April 27.
New Jersey Marine Resources & Hard Rock’s Shell Recycling Program
Hard Rock Atlantic City will continue to contribute to the New Jersey Shell Recycling Program, which collects more than 100 metric tons of discarded oysters annually. Rather than ending up in landfills, the shells are cleaned and reused to maintain local oyster populations.
Ocean Casino Resort
- Ocean team members volunteered at Reed’s Farm repotting seedlings grown at the farm for an upcoming Earth Day Plant sale. A Meaningful Purpose at Reed’s Farm utilizes organic seeds and natural fertilizers to foster soil regeneration, while also addressing food insecurity and community inclusiveness.
- Ocean recently installed 10 EV charging stations and will feature a total of 30 chargers and 60 EV charging spots located on the 4th floor of its parking garage.
- Ocean is committed to reducing food waste by recycling our kitchen grease with Kraly farms, effectively lowering methane and greenhouse gas emissions, saving landfill space, and decreasing trash disposal fees.
- Ocean has converted various aspects of its property to LED lighting, including the customer parking garage, front and back of house and hotel tower, and guestrooms.
- Ocean has converted all hotel guest rooms to a Hotel Tech Thermostat with smart motion sensors built in to detect action in the room, maximizing energy conservation in unoccupied rooms.
- Ocean has removed water fountains across the property, replacing them with bottle fillers.
- Ocean recently invested in battery-powered lawn mowers, moving away from gasoline.
Resorts Casino Hotel
Resorts Casino Hotel is participating in the 3rd Annual Stockton Community Day Clean Up on Saturday, April 27.
Kitchen Programs
Discarded oyster shells from its restaurants are collected by the NJDEP Shell Recycling Program. The shells are planted on seed beds in the Mullica River increasing the potential for oyster settlement, water filtration, and fish habitat availability. The kitchen at Resorts recycles glass, cardboard, and cooking oil. The kitchen also donates food scraps to a pig farm in North Jersey.
Facilities Programs
A Water Conservation & Drought Management Plan was drafted in early 2024 to ensure aquifer sustainability by detailing our yearly water consumption and forecasting future water demands.
A LED Fixture Retrofit Program has been implemented to replace halogen, high-pressure sodium, and fluorescent fittings. Replacing these large draw fixtures with LEDs drastically lowers our electric consumption.
Variable Frequency Drives (VFD) are being installed on large electrical motors to govern speeds based on demands rather than continuously operating at 100%, thus reducing electric consumption.
Closely work with the contractor “Clean Earth” to make sure all its electronic waste (batteries, caustic chemicals, paints, fluorescent bulbs, and aerosols) is properly sorted and disposed of, eliminating the potential of harmful contaminants making their way into landfills.
Hotel/EVS Programs
Hotel key cards are reused. The department recycles their glass and cardboard. They also use refillable cleaning bottles. Two EV Charging stations were recently added to our surface parking lot.