How to put recycling into practice

across tourism operations

On 17 May, the world marked Global Recycling Day — a reminder that sustainability is no longer a future ambition for the tourism industry, but an operational priority today. Across the sector, hotels, tour operators, mobility providers and destinations are facing increasing pressure to reduce environmental impact while meeting the expectations of more conscious travellers.

Waste management and recycling are now at the centre of that shift. From reducing single-use plastics to improving waste segregation and introducing more circular practices, tourism businesses are rethinking how they operate — not only to comply with regulations, but also to build stronger and more resilient operations.

At HBX Group, we are working to strengthen waste management and recycling practices across our offices, while promoting more responsible day-to-day habits such as reducing unnecessary printing, improving waste separation and encouraging more conscious resource use across teams.

Tourism naturally generates high volumes of waste through accommodation services, food and beverage operations, transport, packaging and guest consumption. On average, tourist waste reaches 1.6 kg per person per day — roughly double the global average. Without intervention, it could reach 205 million tonnes annually by 2034 (around 7% of global solid waste), posing significant challenges, particularly in destinations with limited waste management infrastructure. Waste from the tourism and hospitality sector is composed primarily of organic waste (37–72%), followed by paper and cardboard (6–40%) and plastics (5–15%), reinforcing the need for both reduction and effective separation systems (World Economic Forum (WEF) Insight Report 2025).

At the same time, travellers are increasingly aware of the environmental footprint of their trips, making sustainability a growing factor in decision-making. As a result, recycling is no longer a secondary initiative — it is becoming a practical and visible way for tourism businesses to reduce impact, improve efficiency and respond to both operational and customer expectations.

Drawing on recommendations from the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative Annual Progress Report 2024 (UN Tourism & UNEP), many tourism businesses are turning recycling into a set of concrete, operational actions. Across the tourism industry, the shift towards better recycling often starts with simple but high-impact changes: In accommodation and hospitality.

• Introduce clearly labelled waste separation systems in guest areas and back-of-house
• Replace single-use items with reusable or recyclable alternatives
• Reduce paper consumption through digital check-in, invoices and communications
• Improve food waste management through portion control and smarter buffet operations
• Train staff to ensure consistency in recycling practices

In travel experiences and services

• Minimise packaging and printed materials in tours and activities
• Prioritise suppliers using recyclable or low-impact materials
• Design experiences that reduce on-the-go waste generation
• Encourage travellers to follow local recycling practices during their stay

Across operations and supply chain

• Work with waste management providers to improve recycling rates
• Integrate recycling criteria into supplier selection and procurement
• Track waste generation to identify reduction opportunities
• Align internal campaigns with global awareness days to drive engagement

When implemented consistently, these actions not only reduce waste but also improve operational efficiency and create more responsible tourism experiences.