Waste is a massive issue for the tourism industry and the environment. We generate huge volumes of waste, much of which goes to landfill. Much of this waste could be avoided in the first place by purchasing products with less packaging. Waste may also contain valuable materials, many of which are easily recoverable. The weighting of scoring in this section reflects the importance of the waste hierarchy – giving preference to measures aimed at eliminating or reducing waste, followed by reuse, recycling and responsible disposal. Examples of the waste assessment criteria include:

• Returnable and reusable packaging
• Reducing waste in marketing
• Dosing and bulk buying
• Portion control
• Garden and kitchen waste
• Rechargeable batteries and eco-gadgets
• Electronic equipment reuse, recycling and disposal
• Printer and toner cartridges
• Recycling options
• Hazardous household waste disposal
• Dog waste disposal