Abstract:
Solid waste management is a challenging and complex task. The problem is more pronounced
in the hospitality industry due to the nature of the services they provide and a reliance on
consumable goods. To this effect, the researcher conducted this study to explore the solid
waste management practices of hotels in the Accra. The specific objectives of the study were
to; analyse the hotel solid waste management practices in the hospitality industry, to bring out
the challenges associated with solid waste management in the hospitality industry and to find
out the effects of poor solid waste management on the hospitality industry and the
environment as a whole. The study used the descriptive survey approach and collected data
quantitatively to solve the research problem. The population of the study consisted of 3-star
rated hotels and above in the Accra Metropolis out of which a sample of four hotels was
made. The study used purposive sampling to select the hotels and staff of the hotels. A total
of 80 participants were selected from the four hotels which are Movenpick Ambassador
Hotel, Golden Tulip Hotel, Airport View Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
Questionnaire was the main research instrument used to collect data for the study. The study
found that food waste constitute majority of waste in the hotel sector and waste management
is mostly (100%) done through disposal or dumping at landfill sites. It was also found that
various challenges plague the waste management process such as high financial costs, little or
no technology, lack of government support and labour intensiveness. The effects of improper
waste management were found to be negative word of mouth for hotel (100%), breeding of
insects and pests that carry disease causing organisms (100%), flooding (85%) and offensive
odours (77.2%). The study recommends that government should enact legislation that makes
it mandatory for hotel managers to recycle part of their waste. Also, institutions should be set
up to provide the necessary technical training to enable firms practice integrated waste
management.
Description:
A project report in the department of HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM, Faculty of
VOCATIONAL EDUCATION, submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, University
of Education Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for award of the
Master of Technology (Catering and Hospitality) degree.