Investigating Food Waste and Recycling Practices in Qatar: A Study Focusing on the Hotel Industry

The problem this research identified was the unavailability of data and information much needed for policy recommendation addressing recycling of different materials, including Food Waste, in the hotel industry in Qatar. This research study was set up to primarily achieve a threefold goal. First, explore the current practices within the Hotel Industry in Qatar regarding recycling of waste materials including food. The survey was followed by in-depth interviews that took place during the months of June, July and August of 2015. Second, search and retrieve all related and available (i.e. as of December 2015) national strategies, rules, laws and policies that are regulating or in position to play a guiding role to waste management in Qatar. Third, examine the effect of awareness on Food Waste reduction.

To achieve these goals, first, the full-population of open and operating hotels (including designated hotel-apartments) in Qatar was surveyed; i.e. a total number of 111 as of the 1s of September 2015, and in-depth interviews took place after the survey. Second, an experiment took place to measure the effect of awareness on Food Waste reduction in one hotel during the month of Ramadan 2015. Several important points constituted the research conclusions and suggested recommendations. These included the need to officially and regularly collect data on recycling in Qatar from all sectors of the economy, the need for investments to be made in the field of recycling in Qatar, better planning is required between different players throughout the supply-chain of materials as well as within the Food Sector, clear laws and regulations to monitor and guide the issue of waste in the country, and finally the important role of awareness in educating the society regarding the negative impacts of waste on the environment.