SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT FROM THE HOTEL SECTOR IN JOÃO PESSOA, BRAZIL

Abstract

If the solid waste produced by economic actors is not of a hazardous nature, its collection and treatment is supported by municipalities. Among the economic activities are tourism activities, with strong growth in the hotel sector in Brazil, and more particularly in coastal urban areas such as the city of João Pessoa. This research aimed to analyze the solid waste management of a set of lodging facilities located in the city of João Pessoa, Brazil. In this perspective, a questionnaire was applied to the managers of seven lodging facilities, aiming to identify the solid waste management practices adopted. The analysis made it possible to identify the types of establishments, characterize the solid waste in terms of identifying its origins and determine its collection and treatment conditions. Thus, the largest sectors and services generating solid waste are kitchen/restaurant, bar and room services. Of the hotels analyzed, more than 70% of them send their total waste to landfill, while the remaining establishments have implemented sorting of recyclable waste at source. Organic waste is rarely separated at source and therefore ends up mixed with other waste. Only 14.3% of hotels have a Solid Waste Management Plan, an important management and enforcement tool. Taking into account the current situation of the hotel sector and in accordance with Brazilian regulations, it is necessary to develop a solid waste management strategy with a view to its material and energy recovery, and to reduce the flow of solid waste to be sent to the landfill.