Understanding how tourism impacts local waste services is essential for businesses looking to maintain cleanliness, comply with regulations, and promote sustainability during the peak season.
As the summer season rolls around in the UK, the influx of tourists presents a significant challenge to local waste services.
The surge in visitors leads to an increase in litter, strains on infrastructure, and heightened environmental concerns.
Litter Pollution Crisis: Rise in Summer Coastal Waste
The Scale of the Problem
- Beach Litter Increase: A report in 2024 revealed a 9.5% rise in single-use plastic waste on UK and Channel Island beaches from the previous year. Volunteers collected over three-quarters of a million pieces.
- Local Councils Overwhelmed: Councils in tourist hotspots have reported being inundated with litter issues, putting additional pressure on waste collection services.
Read more about Beach Litter Statistics 2025 | Waste Managed.
Regional Responses to Over Tourism
- Tourist Levies Introduced: Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole implemented a tourist tax in July 2024, charging visitors £2 per room per night in larger hotels. The levy aims to address over tourism and support tourism services.
- Calls for Entry Levies: Orkney, Scotland, looks to adopt a Venice-style tourism tax to manage over tourism, inspired by the €5 day-tripper fee in Venice.
The Impact on Local Businesses During Summer
If you operate a café, pub, hotel, holiday let, shop, or tourist attraction, here’s how the summer surge can affect your waste systems:
- Bins fill up quickly, especially in front-of-house or outdoor areas
- Increased risk of pests or odours if bins are not emptied promptly
- Higher mixed waste fees if recycling is neglected
- Rising expectations from customers regarding sustainability and cleanliness
Overflowing bins attracting complaints can result in fines from the council for breaching waste bylaws.
Read further here on how businesses can stay green Waste Managed ESG.
Five Strategies to Manage the Summer Waste Surge
- Review Your Waste Contract: Discuss your needs with your waste provider in advance to arrange more frequent collections or larger bins.
- Audit Your Bins: Ensure bins are properly labelled for different waste types, especially with the new Simpler Recycling rules. Clear signage helps tourists navigate local recycling systems.
- Reduce Waste at the Source: opt for digital menus, reusable options, and minimal packaging to cut down on waste.
- Smart Waste Storage: Utilise stackable or lockable bins and compactors to save space. Avoid piling waste around bins to comply with hygiene regulations.
- Train Seasonal Staff: Provide brief training to temporary summer employees on waste management to avoid issues later.
Green Initiatives Beyond Compliance
- Partner with cleanup charities or organise community litter-picks to demonstrate leadership and goodwill.
- Consider installing additional bins for private use to help manage waste effectively.
Conclusion
While tourism brings economic benefits to many UK towns and cities, it doesn’t have to result in overflowing bins.
With proper planning and small adjustments, businesses can navigate the summer rush while maintaining a clean and sustainable environment.
Clean streets contribute to positive first impressions, customer loyalty, and fewer issues with local authorities. It’s a win-win situation.
At Waste Managed, we support over 35,000 UK businesses, therefore we understand the challenges of the summer season.
Whether you need assistance with general waste, recycling, food waste, sanitary services, or pest control, we are here to help you stay on top of things.
Review your waste management setup now to ensure you are prepared for changes in demand.
Request a free quote today to ensure you have the right support in place.
