The Challenge of Engaging Guests and Employees in Sustainable Waste Practices in Hotels
Sustainability is a key priority in the hospitality industry, but many hotel managers still struggle with engaging both guests and staff in sustainable waste practices, which can impact overall sustainability goals.Despite having well-designed recycling bins and informative signage, low participation rates in waste diversion programs are a persistent challenge. According to Pirani and Arafat (2016a), hotels produce an average of 289,700 tons of waste each year. So when guests don’t prioritize recycling or the staff lacks adequate training or time to enforce waste separation effectively, the consequences are huge. A lack of engagement not only affects the hotel’s environmental impact but also adds to operational inefficiencies, particularly in waste management costs.
