The Hidden Cost of Hotel Waste
Every year, hotels in the UK, Europe, and US generate thousands of tonnes of soap, plastic amenity bottles, and food waste.According to World sustainable Hospitality alliance the hospitality industry contributes 1% of global emission each year.
But hotel waste isn’t just about cost. Travellers are becoming more eco-conscious, with 74% of global travellers planning to travel more sustainably. Hotels that ignore this shift risk falling behind competitors.
Why Reducing Hotel Waste Matters
Hotel waste management is no longer a tick-box exercise. It directly impacts:
- Environmental sustainability – cutting CO₂ emissions and saving water.
- Operational efficiency – reducing disposal costs and improving supply chain use.
- Guest experience – travellers increasingly choose hotels that demonstrate visible, credible sustainability actions.
In cities such as London, Amsterdam, and Barcelona, hotels are facing new EU regulations banning single-use plastics by 2030, making waste management a priority now, not later.
Clean the World: Turning Waste into Impact
At Clean the World, we work with more than 8,300 hotel partners worldwide to reduce their waste footprint. Our Hospitality Recycling Program helps hotels:
- Divert discarded soap and plastic amenity bottled waste from Landfill
- Measure and report their environmental and social impact with verified data.
- Support communities by redistributing recycled soap to those in need.
To date, we’ve diverted millions of kilograms of waste from landfills and provided more than 90 million bars of soap to vulnerable communities.
Hotel Waste Solutions in the UK
One example is the Radisson Hotel Group, which recently launched Europe’s first verified Net Zero hotels in Manchester and Oslo, supported by Clean the World, read more here.
How Your Hotel Can Take Action
Implementing a hotel waste strategy doesn’t need to be complicated:
- Step 1: Assess your current waste streams.
- Step 2: Partner with a trusted hospitality recycling provider like Clean the World.
- Step 3: Track, measure and share progress.
Hotels that act today not only cut costs but also future-proof their business against regulations and consumer demands.
Final Thoughts
Hotel waste is more than a back-of-house issue—it’s a guest-facing, brand-defining challenge. Clean the World helps hotels across the UK, Europe and USA move beyond compliance into measurable impact.
Ready to reduce your hotel waste? Contact Clean the World today and join the growing movement towards circular hospitality.
