Toward a community-based plastic waste management framework to enhance sustainable tourism in small island destinations: a case study of Sabang Island, Indonesia

Abstract Managing plastic waste is an increasing challenge for small-island tourism destinations because of limited infrastructure, rising tourist activities, and vulnerable marine ecosystems. This study focuses on plastic as the most persistent and environmentally harmful waste component, aiming to develop and validate a community-based, multi-stakeholder plastic waste management framework for Sabang Island, Indonesia. A sequential mixed-methods approach was used, combining surveys ( n > 450), in-depth interviews (25 key informants), focus group discussions (6 sessions), and direct observations over three months. Quantitative analysis with IBM’s Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) assessed stakeholder perceptions and priorities regarding plastic waste management, while qualitative data provided contextual insights. The results show that 42% of respondents rated current plastic waste conditions as very poor and 31% as poor. Tourism activities, local businesses, and inadequate infrastructure were identified as the main sources of plastic waste. Key barriers include limited infrastructure (85%), lack of awareness (78%), financial constraints (72%), and weak stakeholder coordination (73%). Despite these obstacles, stakeholders strongly supported plastic waste separation (95%), education campaigns (92%), and recycling initiatives (90%). These findings not only demonstrate significant community readiness but also highlight systemic and governance challenges that need to be addressed. The study offers an empirically grounded and replicable community-based plastic waste management framework to promote sustainable tourism in small island settings.