Walt Disney World honors cast members as ‘Environmental Heroes’
As Walt Disney World prepares to celebrate Earth Day and Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s 25th anniversary on April 22, 2023, the resort is honoring five Environmental Heroes who “go above and beyond” all year long when it comes to sustainability.
Cast Members across the Walt Disney World Resort work to support a healthier planet for people and wildlife, but Disney Environmental Heroes are those who go the extra mile to conserve natural resources, care for wildlife and their habitats, and reduce waste.
Angela, Animal Keeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park
Angela was named an Environmental Hero for helping animal keepers repurpose discarded items that would otherwise end up in a landfill (like water jugs, cardboard tubes, yoga mats, and even fire hoses) into interactive toys and useful items for animals who call Disney’s Animal Kingdom home.
Leah, Conservation & Science Tech at Epcot
After noticing many lights, pop-quiz boards, and video displays at The Seas with Nemo & Friends stayed on overnight, Leah created lighting maps to help engineers understand which lights should remain on overnight and which should be turned out.
The result? The animals get better sleep, and The Seas reduced its electricity usage.
Jim, Custodial Manager at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
While preparing for a Walt Disney World Cast Member merchandise event, Jim realized how many cardboard boxes, plastic wrappers, and Styrofoam was going to be thrown away, so along with his team, he introduced special recycling bins and made sure the materials were correctly sorted during the event.
By simply recycling the materials instead of throwing them away, Jim and his team prevented 49 bales of cardboard, 105 bags of soft plastic, and a semi-trailer full of Styrofoam from going into a landfill.
Marcela and Vanessa, Merchandise Hostesses at Epcot
Marcela and Vanessa made a big environmental impact with a small question: Do you need a bag? By asking that simple question, these two Environmental Heroes prevented hundreds of plastic shopping bags from going to waste. In addition, they’ve encouraged shoppers to switch to reusable bags.
“Every person has a role in changing the world for the better,” Marcela said. “Selling reusable bags is an easy way I have been able to do that.”
Walt Disney World guests can follow the example set by these Environmental Heroes by recycling their plastic bottles (or using refillable water bottles) or opting out of plastic shopping bags. They may seem like small things, but if we all do them together, they will make a big difference for the environment.
Click here for more information about sustainability practices at Walt Disney World.
