Developing a Waste Quantity Baseline for Green Camping

Abstract

The development of a waste baseline for sustainable camping practices is consistent with the growing eco-tourism movement which emphasizes environmental responsibility. A life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to determine the amount of waste produced by various camping tourism activities, including campgrounds, toilet/shower areas, washing areas, and kitchen/cooking areas. Data was collected from four camping sites in the Doi Chang Area of Chiang Rai province during peak season. On average, 1.25 kg of waste was generated per person from camping tourism. Recyclable waste made up the largest proportion of waste, weighing 0.58 kg per person, of which 77% coming from glass bottles. Other types of waste included 0.76 kg of general waste per person, 0.20 kg of organic waste per person, and 0.01 kg of hazardous waste per person. Waste management of entrepreneurs with the minimum quantity of wastes can be set as a waste minimization practice for others. Furthermore, the waste data, in conjunction with the range of waste produced, can be used in decision-making and to involve stakeholders in the establishment of waste criteria for sustainable camping.