Comparative Modelling and Artificial Neural Network Inspired Prediction of Waste Generation Rates of Hospitality Industry: The Case of North Cyprus

Soolmaz L. Azarmi, Akeem Adeyemi Oladipo, Roozbeh Vaziri and Habib Alipour
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Soolmaz L. Azarmi: Faculty of Tourism, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, TRNC via Mersin 10, Turkey
Akeem Adeyemi Oladipo: Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus Science University, Girne, TRNC via Mersin 10, Turkey
Roozbeh Vaziri: Faculty of Engineering, Cyprus Science University, Girne, TRNC via Mersin 10, Turkey
Habib Alipour: Faculty of Tourism, Eastern Mediterranean University, Famagusta, TRNC via Mersin 10, Turkey

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 9, 1-18

Abstract: This study was undertaken to forecast the waste generation rates of the accommodation sector in North Cyprus. Three predictor models, multiple linear regression (MLR), artificial neural networks (ANNs) and central composite design (CCD), were applied to predict the waste generation rate during the lean and peak seasons. ANN showed highest prediction performance, specifically, lowest values of the standard error of prediction (SEP = 2.153), mean absolute error (MAE = 1.378) and highest R 2 value (0.998) confirmed the accuracy of the model. The analysed waste was categorised into recyclable, general waste and food residue. The authors estimated the total waste generated during the lean season at 2010.5 kg/day, in which large hotels accounted for the largest fraction (66.7%), followed by medium-sized hotels (19.4%) and guesthouses (2.6%). During the peak season, about 49.6% increases in waste generation rates were obtained. Interestingly, 45% of the waste was generated by British tourists, while the least waste was generated by African tourists (7.5%). The ANN predicted that small and large hotels would produce 5.45 and 22.24 tons of waste by the year 2020, respectively. The findings herein are promising and useful in establishing a sustainable waste management system.

Keywords: urban waste; hospitality sector; waste generation rates; artificial neural network prediction; sustainable waste management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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