Airports and Waste Recycling

If you’re in the business of managing airport facilities, starting an on-site recycling program can be a great way to save money on your waste disposal costs and positively impact the environment. Every day, airports are filled with employees and travelers consuming food and drinks purchased at airport facilities. Much of this waste can be recycled with proper planning and management.

When establishing a waste recycling program at your airport, there are a few key points to consider:

1. Decide upon your collection method – will your facility separate recyclables or will all materials be delivered to a recovery facility for sorting? Cost, staffing and airport size will be determining factors.

2. Get buy-in from employees and establish “green” representatives from different work areas. This participation is essential to ensuring that the program is promoted and adhered to.

3. Use resources available from the EPA and your local environmental agency to target specific areas where your facility can recycle, reduce, or reuse. Questionnaires are available to help you determine a baseline for your facility, plot goals, and evaluate results.

4. Talk with your current waste disposal company to determine what kind of recycling services they offer and the cost. Determine what kinds of recyclable materials will be collected.

5. If recycling is new to your facility, think about launching a small scale recycling project is one area first. This will allow you to put a system in place and address logistics before expanding to an entire airport.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: As more people spend more time in airports, recycling programs are a great way to show travelers you can about the environment while reducing your waste disposal costs.