Appraisal of Waste Management Practices in Hotels Along the Calabar Tourism Belt, Cross River State

This study appraises waste management practices in hotels located along the Calabar Tourism Belt in Cross River State, South South Nigeria. Sustainable environmental management has become a priority concern for the hospitality industry globally, as tourism-related waste continues to strain natural and urban environments. The study adopts a descriptive survey design with observations and structured questionnaires administered to hotel facility managers and housekeeping supervisors across 18 registered hotels in Calabar Municipality. Indicators assessed include solid waste segregation, food waste reduction practices, compliance with Cross River State Environmental Laws, and presence of recycling programmes. Findings reveal that 72 percent of sampled hotels lack formal waste segregation systems, and only 28 percent have documented environmental management policies. Food waste disposal in open drains is reported in 40 percent of properties, posing public health and aesthetic risks. Small-scale hotels are found to have significantly weaker waste management practices compared to larger internationally affiliated properties. The study recommends that the Cross River State Environmental Protection Agency enforce mandatory waste management compliance audits for all registered hotels, that tourism authorities integrate environmental performance indicators into hotel star classification criteria, and that hotel operators be incentivised to adopt green practices through tax reliefs. Staff training on sustainable operations is also strongly advised. Keywords: waste management, hotel sustainability, environmental compliance, Calabar, green hospitality