Waste Management in Tourist Destinations: The Case Studies of Cervia and Cattolica

Waste policy represents one of the core components of the European Union's environmental policy. This field is particularly well developed and supported by a comprehensive regulatory framework, which Member States are required to transpose and implement. An interesting aspect to analyse is the relationship between waste production and management, and, more specifically, the way in which tourism affects both dimensions. For a long time, this relationship was neglected and only in recent years has it emerged as a research topic. The European Union has not established a unique method for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management and therefore, different methodologies are adopted across Member States. In Italy there are various collection systems, and local authorities play a fundamental role in adopting activities, programmes, and policies to manage tourism in a way compatible with the sustainable development of touristic destinations. This thesis aims to explore how the coastal municiaplities of Cervia and Cattolica, as highly tourist destinations, have adapted their urban waste management systems, using a qualitative methodology based on semi-structured interviews and the analysis of official documents.