EXPLORING SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT IN THE HOTEL INDUSTRY IN GHANA: A CASE STUDY OF SELECTED HOTELS IN THE ACCRA METROPOLIS

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.