TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Rome has been named the dirtiest tourist city in the world, according to a report compiled by Eagle Dumpster Rental, a waste management company based in the United States.
Despite this, the Italian capital remains a popular destination for tourists, thanks to its historical buildings.
As reported by Travel and Leisure, the waste management system in the city is poor. The cleanliness issues in Rome have led to frustration among local residents, while visitors often complain about the trash, though they continue to visit.
The city produces a high amount of waste per person, with 1,444 pounds of waste generated annually per resident.
Brian McDaid, a recycling expert at Eagle Dumpster Rental, stated that the historic streets of Rome are facing a modern waste crisis.
"Rome's historic streets are experiencing a modern waste crisis,” McDaid said, as quoted by Travel and Leisure.
“The city's ancient infrastructure wasn't designed for modern waste volumes, creating challenges for both residents and tourists.”
Rome's Tourist Appeal
Rome is one of the most popular cities for tourists around the world. It is home to many historical landmarks such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and the Trevi Fountain.
The number of foreign visitors to the city increases each year, and last year, a record 22 million tourists visited, according to Turismo Roma.
This year, Rome is targeting 32 to 35 million visitors, coinciding with the Jubilee celebrations that occur every 25 years.
Despite being the dirtiest city, Rome could learn much from the top cities on the list to improve waste management for both tourists and residents.
"The cleanest cities show that effective waste management systems, public education, and appropriate infrastructure can create more pleasant urban environments for everyone, whether they're visiting for a day or staying for a lifetime," McDaid said.
Ranking Methodology
The ranking was determined by analyzing major tourist destinations worldwide based on factors such as street cleanliness, waste management practices, public cleanliness perceptions, and per capita waste production.
They used data from the Numbeo quality of life database, the Atlas D-Waste solid waste management database, and city-specific resources for their report. Each destination was then given a Street Cleanliness Score.
While Rome topped the list as the dirtiest, Singapore was named the cleanest tourist city on the list.