Managing Solid Waste in Small Welsh Hotels in an Environmentally Responsible Way

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Author
Radwan, Hatem
Date
2009Type
Thesis
Publisher
University of Wales
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
On aggregate, small hotels constitute a significant solid waste management (SWM)
problem undertaking landfill as a main waste disposal strategy for hotel waste. This
not only adds to the degradation of the environment but also imposes a significant
cost over the business in terms of production and disposal of the waste. However,
analysis of the literature revealed that the issue of SWM in the context of the small
hotel sector had been paid little attention by academics. This research intends
specifically to identify the challenges of adopting sustainable SWM practices in
small hotels and provide potential solutions. A conceptual framework was evolved
to guide this study. It merges Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) with SWM best
practices to understand hoteliers’ attitudes and the obstacles of implementing
sustainable SWM options.
A phenomenological perspective was adopted to investigate SWM issues in two
different case studies of small hotels in Wales using: semi-structured interviews,
direct observation and document analysis. First, a case study of non-Green Dragon
Environmental Standard (GDES) small hotels in a Welsh local authority was
developed. The findings revealed that most non-GDES hoteliers highly prioritized
landfill and felt negatively about the implementation of sustainable SWM options
with the exception of recycling. There is also a perceived range of behavioural
constraints, among these: lack of awareness; lack of recycling and composting
facilities; poor manufacturers’ production and packaging strategies; lack of space,
time and cost issues. A part of this case study, the potential role of public and
private waste sectors was examined through undertaking semi-structured
interviews with the executive of both sectors. The results identified limitations of
SWM operations undertaken by both sectors.
Second, a case study of small hotels committed to GDES in Wales was designed.
Most GDES hoteliers held positive attitudes and implemented sustainable SWM
options. In comparison, non-GDES hoteliers had no intention of managing their
solid waste effectively, even after the recycling service was made available to them
by the local authority – an issue which necessitates government intervention. A
cross-case analysis was undertaken identifying seven means of motivations to
influence hoteliers’ behavioural intentions in relation to SWM: providing recycling
and composting facilities; providing awareness and education; enhancing the
economic motivation; encouraging the social motivation; boosting the marketing
motivation; enacting legislative pressure; building networks between small hotels.
A major contribution of this study is related to the development of a best practice
model for the public sector to encourage better SWM practices in small hotels,
along with an input/output process model to support/oblige public and private
waste sectors to apply sustainable SWM practices and work more closely with
small hotels. Also, the study had verified that the model of TPB with its main
components (Attitude, Subjective Norm and Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC))
was not adequate to explain the attitude/behaviour relationship.
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