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Abstract
The hospitality industry is a significant contributor to global waste generation, necessitating an urgent shift towards sustainable waste management practices. This study examines the challenges, strategies, and stakeholder roles in waste management within the hotel industry, emphasizing the environmental and operational implications of improper waste disposal. Findings indicate that food waste is the predominant waste stream (45%), followed by plastic, paper, hazardous, and electronic waste, consistent with prior research. Despite increasing awareness, financial constraints, regulatory inconsistencies, limited recycling infrastructure, and lack of awareness among employees and guests remain substantial barriers to effective waste management. The study highlights various sustainable waste management strategies, including food waste reduction initiatives, recycling, composting, digitalization, and circular economy principles. The integration of AI-driven waste tracking, smart waste collection systems, and guest engagement programs presents opportunities for improving efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, collaborative stakeholder involvement, particularly from hotel management, employees, guests, government bodies, waste management companies, and technology providers, is crucial in ensuring the success of sustainable waste practices. This research contributes to the existing body of knowledge by offering a stakeholder-based framework for waste management in the hotel sector and advancing discussions on the adoption of technology-driven sustainability solutions. Future research should explore the long-term impact of emerging waste management technologies and assess the effectiveness of policy measures in different regions. The findings underscore the need for stronger regulatory enforcement, increased investment in waste management innovations, and enhanced training and awareness programs to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability in the hospitality industry.
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References
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References
Amuquandoh, F. E. (2010). Residents’ perceptions of the environmental impacts of tourism in the Lake Bosomtwe Basin, Ghana. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 18(2), 223–238. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669580903298531
Filimonau, V., Derqui, B., & Matute, J. (2020). The Covid-19 pandemic and food waste: Impacts of hotel sector shutdowns on food waste management. Tourism Management, 87, 104395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2021.104395
Ghisellini, P., Cialani, C., & Ulgiati, S. (2016). A review on circular economy: The expected transition to a balanced interplay of environmental and economic systems. Journal of Cleaner Production, 114, 11–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.09.007
Kularatne, T., Wilson, C., Mansson, J., Hoang, V., & Lee, B. (2019). Do environmentally sustainable practices make hotels more efficient? International Journal of Hospitality Management, 76, 53–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2018.04.001
Legrand, W., Sloan, P., & Chen, J. S. (2020). Sustainability in the hospitality industry: Principles of sustainable operations. Routledge.
Liu, P., Teng, M., & Han, X. (2019). Understanding customer participation in sustainable hotel practices. Tourism Management, 71, 84–95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.10.002
Luo, Y., Wong, I. A., King, B., Liu, M. T., & Huang, G. (2021). Sustainable waste management in the hotel industry: A systematic review. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 48, 365–375. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2021.06.004
Mani, S., & Jabar, J. (2016). Waste management practices in the hotel industry in Malaysia. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 224, 213–220. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.454
Miao, L., & Wei, W. (2016). Consumers’ pro-environmental behavior and hotel brand loyalty. Tourism Management, 57, 255–267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.06.005
Mohammed, I., Al-Douri, A. H., & Ismail, H. (2022). A review of waste management strategies in the hospitality industry. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(24), 36274–36290. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-022-19118-6
Pirani, S. I., & Arafat, H. A. (2016). Solid waste management in the hospitality industry: A review. Journal of Environmental Management, 146, 320–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.07.038
Singh, S., Dash, S., & Misra, S. (2020). Regulatory frameworks for waste management in the hospitality sector: A global perspective. Waste Management & Research, 38(3), 234–245. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734242X19891245
Sustainable Hospitality Alliance. (2021). Waste management in hotels: Best practices and case studies. Sustainable Hospitality Reports. Retrieved from https://sustainablehospitalityalliance.org
Teng, Y. M., Wu, K. S., & Huang, D. M. (2021). The effect of green marketing on consumer behavior in the hotel industry. Sustainability, 13(14), 7801. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147801
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). (2021). Global waste management outlook. Retrieved from https://www.unep.org/resources/report/global-waste-management-outlook
Wang, X., Loke, M. K., Leung, P., & DiPierro, M. (2022). Food waste reduction strategies in the hotel industry: Challenges and opportunities. Tourism Economics, 28(2), 385–403. https://doi.org/10.1177/13548166211012356
Zhang, H., Zhou, L., & Jin, X. (2021). Green hotel initiatives and waste management: An empirical investigation. Journal of Cleaner Production, 278, 123849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123849
