Sustainability Behind the Scenes: How Florence’s Waste System Shapes Hospitality

By Alice Totaro (11/2/25) — Florence, IT

The waste management system in Florence is unlike anything I have experienced in the U.S. It’s much more elaborate and environmentally conscious than what I’m used to, which is usually just trash and recycling with occasional composting. When I first moved here in August and we were given tours of campus, our dorm, and our neighborhood, I was immediately struck by the variety of trash receptacles. There are five categories that Florentine residents must separate their trash into: compost, paper, glass, mixed recycling, and general waste. This led me to wonder how tourists and study abroad students in Florence impact the city’s sustainable systems.

Peeking out over the wall of the Mugnone River, you can see the five different colors of the trash receptacles representing the different waste material types.

In my dorm building, Il Santo, I am constantly in contact with other study abroad students. Curious about how a hospitality business navigates sustainability through a strict waste management system among an international environment of students, I got in touch with Teresa, the Assistant Accommodation Manager at Il Santo. She shared some very interesting insights about Il Santo’s sustainability practices.

Il Santo Stays, Florence

 I thought that managing the volume of waste produced within Florence’s system would be difficult, but she noted that “since the waste separation and recycling have been carried out for decades in Florence, and in Italy in general, the staff are more than accustomed to this process.” I wondered how the behavior of their guests impacted this. My experience, especially in our building’s communal kitchen, has been that so many students disregard the trash can labels and complain about the separation process.

Teresa explained that “the greatest challenge in organizing waste collection is teaching people from different cultures.” She noted that since Italian children are taught from a very young age how to respect the environment, and know what small daily actions (including waste separation) help the environment and economy, they form sustainable habits early. Nevertheless, Il Santo does its best to teach the guests to comply.

When students move out for the winter, Il Santo pays for the city to collect extra waste. Although this is expensive, Teresa emphasized that “paying higher fees ultimately benefits everyone.” Il Santo also uses environmentally-friendly cleaning products. While these products can be more costly to produce, the Italian government and the European Union provide tax incentives to businesses for sustainable choices like these.

Waste receptacles in Il Santo’s courtyard

Another sustainable practice that Il Santo has involves the heating and cooling system. While each room has a thermostat, the building temperature is set through a computerized system that only allows students to change their room temperature by a few degrees from the building temperature. Additionally, the electricity in the rooms only turns on when we place our key card in the slot inside. These strategies increase energy efficiency, help reduce pollution, and save money for Il Santo.

Il Santo’s green courtyard common area

Although most of the residents living in Il Santo are unfamiliar with these practices – and even maybe annoyed by the differences, such as the extra time it takes to think about which receptacle to put which material in – it’s clear how important they are. Especially for a small city like Florence, where tourism is growing rapidly, the cleanliness and appeal of the destination are essential for its economic well-being. 

In the end, the few extra seconds it takes to make the right decision actually makes a huge difference – and, in the end, is a gain for all. 

“The oceans are made up of individual drops of water.” –Teresa