Tourists are some of the biggest offenders in waste production, generating—in some areas—as much as twice the amount of waste as locals. They aren't provided with the same information as residents, nor do they have the same access to proper waste bins in a lot of circumstances. This leads to recyclable items ending up in the trash, and trash ending up in the parks, on the beaches, and in the street.  

Below, we’ve listed some ways to help tourists and visitors to your city learn how to recycle and dispose of their trash the right way.  

1. Increase your signage

Put up posters in high traffic areas like town squares, parks, beaches, and other tourism-heavy spots. Rent out billboards, collaborate with local hotels, and put a statement on your website—both your municipal and your tourism sites. Encourage visitors to keep your home beautiful and dispose of their waste properly.  

Tip: Offer multi-lingual signage and make use of graphics in order to reach more people.

2. Encourage visitors to download the Recycle Coach app  

When you’ve partnered with Recycle Coach, the app isn’t only for residents; anyone can use it! All visitors need to do is put in the address of where they’re staying, even if they aren’t taking their waste to the curb. The What Goes Where feature will allow them to search how to dispose of any item they’re unsure of.  

3. Increase available garbage and recycling bins  

Do you have any parks, beaches, or other locations whose waste bins are always overflowing? That might be a sign to increase the number of them. If you haven’t already, invest in a multi-functional waste bin with separate spots for trash, recycling, and organic waste (if that’s part of your program).  

Tip: Make sure to use clear signage so everyone knows what goes where.

4. Promote local and eco-friendly businesses  

Boost your local economy by encouraging visitors to shop local. Go one step further by doing some research to see if there are local eco-friendly businesses, such as sustainable clothing shops, zero-waste stores, and eco beauty shops that you can promote.  

5. Create a task force

If tourist waste is an ongoing problem in your area, creating a taskforce of employees to focus on the problem, create campaigns, and form solutions may be an effective next step.  

‍

Want to know more? Learn about Recycle Coach and how we can help your community dispose of waste properly and efficiently here.  

‍