Options for sustainable solid waste management in a tourist city in a developing country

A study was undertaken to develop options for sustainable integrated solid waste management for a tourist city in Vietnam. The generation and characterisation of tourism waste were based on a sampling survey of Hoi An city (HAC). Problems and challenges of a tourism waste management system were indicated using material flow analysis. Five scenarios were developed for the tourism sector of the city based on current solid waste management practice (SWMP), a consensus of stakeholders, the suitability of waste management systems and the contribution of the government. In two of the scenarios, waste reduction was 6.5 times higher and recyclables recovered was 3.3–4.2 times greater than that in two of the minimalist scenarios. Furthermore, the former scenarios showed more efficiency in treatment, optimal economy and minimum greenhouse gas emissions. The study indicated the advantages and challenges of each scenario and identified an optimal model for SWMP for the tourism industry of HAC. A framework for gradually developing a sustainable tourism waste management system was proposed, potentially applicable to any tourist city in a developing country.