Tourism intensity and plastic waste management: insights from European capital cities

Abstract The surge in demand for plastic materials, coupled with the rising trend of out-of-home food consumption, has posed significant challenges to urban waste management systems. These challenges are intensified in touristic cities where touch-and-go tourism leads visitors to spend most of the day outside, resulting in a high generation of waste in urban areas. While existing research focuses predominantly on the hospitality sector, the role of public administrations remains underexplored. This study addresses this gap by surveying city managers from ten European capitals, providing a comprehensive overview of plastic waste management and prevention patterns. Results reveal that legislative measures and plastic bans are effective, but local initiatives and social programs require further support. Waste generated in public areas is less scrutinized than residential waste, and differences in municipal waste collection schemes hinder proper sorting. Findings underscore the need for collaborative efforts in both waste prevention and management to strengthen partnerships with hotels, restaurants and shopkeepers, as well as the proper design of waste logistics and infrastructure and dedicated communication campaigns in tourist hotspots.