Waste Management in Hospitality Industry

Introduction

• The hospitality industry is integral to food service, offering food and drinks to customers and enhancing communities through job creation.
• The industry faces increasing consumer demand for diverse foods, resulting in increased waste management concerns.
• Waste management is crucial to efficiently collect, separate, recycle, and dispose of waste from both people and businesses, especially with growing demand for fast food.
• Effective waste management is essential to prevent negative impacts on community resources and maintain cleanliness.
• The fast food industry, particularly McDonald's, faces notable challenges related to waste generation due to the high volume of disposable packaging and food waste.
• Waste management is a critical concern for the food service industry due to shifting consumer preferences towards convenience and quick service.

Background of the Study

• The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) establishes guidelines for waste management in the Philippines.
• This extensive law addresses waste source reduction, recycling, and composting.
• Encouraging environmentally-sound waste management methods is a crucial component.
• McDonald's is a large international fast-food chain that has been rapidly expanding its presence in the Philippines starting in 1981 with locations in Pasay City.
• Rapid expansion, high-volume of disposable products and food waste are a significant concern for the company and the environment.

Research Questions

• What is the assessment of employees and management at selected McDonald's branches in Pasay City regarding Reduce, Reuse and Recycle practices?
• Is there a significant difference in the assessments of different groups of respondents (e.g., employees, management) at the different McDonald's branches?
• What are the challenges faced by different groups of respondents in relation to managing waste at each McDonald's branch?

Hypothesis

• There is no significant difference in the assessment of respondents from the different McDonald's branches in Pasay City related to waste management practices.

Scope and Limitations

• The study focuses on waste management practices at selected McDonald's branches within Pasay City.
• The study will involve respondents including 27 managers and 140 employees.
• The study is set to take place between August 2024 and December 2024.
• The study will evaluate how McDonald's practices align with RA 9003 and existing waste management practices and policies.

Review of Related Literature

• The Philippines still faces problems in solid waste management despite RA 9003.
• Challenges in the scope, operation, cost, and involvement of the informal sector are factors.
• The need for public-private partnerships is a key component.
• The importance of waste segregation for recycling and proper disposal is highlighted in international research and articles dealing with waste management.
• Food waste is a concern for developing nations including the Philippines.
• Effective strategies and practices for managing food waste help in mitigation of negative environmental and economic impacts.
• Increased focus on international collaboration and sustainable solutions is crucial to reduce food waste.
• Addressing waste management in the hospitality industry is important to reduce waste, encourage recycling, and promote waste segregation.
• Proper use of staff education, inventory management, and training are important waste reduction practices.

International Literature

• Waste produced by human activity poses an environmental threat.
• Selective garbage collection and recycling have replaced previous methods of waste disposal, focusing on significant stress on the environment and climate change.
• Sustainable waste management practices, including the recycling and reuse, minimize environmental conservation issues.
• Strategies to reduce waste output and encourage recycling and reuse, are important to reduce negative effects on waste management sustainability.
• The hospitality industry's significant contribution to food waste was studied and methods for lowering food waste include staff education and enhanced inventory management.

Local Literature

• The Philippines has problems in waste management despite the law RA 9003.
• Lack of adherence to waste policies, institutional gaps, scope, cost issues, and the informal sector were found to be problems.
• The role of public-private partnerships to close institutional gaps for better and effective adherence to waste management policies is of critical importance.

Theoretical and Conceptual Framework

• The study utilizes the primary theory of determining gaps in direct waste management practices at McDonald's branches in Pasay City through waste hierarchy.
• The waste hierarchy (avoidance, resource recovery, and disposal) evaluates the efficient management of food loss and waste.
• The Input-Process-Output (IPO) model will be used to guide the data collection and analysis.
• Inputs includes the relevant literature, surveys, and data collected from respondents, which will inform the process of analyzing waste management practices.
• Outputs include the proposed recommendations gathered from the studied data through data interpretation and analysis.

This quiz explores the role of waste management in the hospitality and food service industries, with a focus on fast food operations like McDonald's. It discusses the challenges of waste generation due to consumer demand for convenience and the importance of effective waste management practices. Key legislation, such as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is also highlighted.