Solid Waste Management in Small Hotels of Mukteshwar, Nainital (India)

Small hotels are considered as the backbone of the tourism industry but at the same time create a noteworthy problem of Solid Waste at any destination. So far, a little or no research has been done on the Solid Waste Management practices of these units. Most of the solid waste generated by these hotels goes to the open dumps, landfills or on any of the hill slopes of the destination. This study opts for a positive approach and looks out for the Solid Waste Management techniques adopted by these hotels and also the role played by government agencies towards these establishments so as to manage the waste effectively. The results exposed a bare fact that only few of the hotels were interested in implementing solid waste management techniques in their properties either because of the apparent problems or the hoteliers themselves were unaware on the SWM issues. This study proposes a best practice model for the government agencies which can be implemented by them. The local authorities should play a good role in eradicating this problem and should educate the waste generators about proper and effective Solid Waste Management techniques and methods.