ERBE 05 1 02
Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Algarve, Portugal: Challenges of Seasonal Tourism
CÁTIA MAGRO 
a,b, CATARINA ROSETA-PALMA c, JOANA DIONÍSIO a, JORGE MOTA b,d, CLÁUDIA RIBEIRO DE ALMEIDA e, EDUARDO CARDADEIRO b
a School for International Training, World Learning Inc., Brattleboro, VT, 05302, USA; b CICEE – Research Center in Economics & Business Sciences, Universidade Autónoma de Lisboa, Portugal; c Business Research Unit, ISCTE – Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal; d GOVCOPP – University of Aveiro, Portugal; e University of the Algarve, CinTurs – Research Center for Tourism Sustainability and Well-being.
To cite this article:
Cátia Magro, Roseta-Palma, C., Dionísio, J., Mota, J., Ribeiro de Almeida, C., Cardadeiro, E. 2025. Municipal Solid Waste Generation in Algarve, Portugal — Challenges of Seasonal Tourism, European Review of Business Economics V(1): 21-38.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26619/ERBE-2025.5.1.2
Received: 15 December 2025. Accepted: —. Published: 31 December 2025.
Language: English
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Abstract
Regions with strong tourism seasonality, like Portugal’s Algarve, face major challenges in municipal solid waste (MSW) management. This study quantifies tourism-induced waste using data from 2017–2024, in collaboration with Algar, the regional MSW utility. In 2024, the Algarve experienced six times more overnight stays in high season than low season, accounting for 25% of Portugal’s total. Yet only 9 of its 16 municipalities host 76% of residents and 95% of overnight stays. Regression models reveal strong links between tourism and waste generation. Tourists produce an estimated 3.44 kg of MSW per overnight stay—double a resident’s daily output—with 3.1 kg unsorted and glass waste four times higher than that of residents. Although tourism accounts for only 27% of annual MSW, it drives over 41% of capacity needs due to seasonality. Findings support fairer, data-driven cost-sharing and system improvements to more effectively manage waste.
Keywords
Tourism; Seasonality; Municipal Solid Waste (MSW); Algarve Region; Waste Generation; Statistical Modeling; Waste Management.
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