How to Start a Recycling Program at Your Airport
Airports provide many opportunities for recycling on the go. With increased ter-
minal security, passengers spend more time in airports than ever before and with
this extra time, they buy and consume more food and beverages. Passengers and
airport personnel generate tons of materials and waste every day, much of which can be recycled.
An airport that implements a recycling program helps make the recycling ethic second nature to
people away from home and reduces its environmental footprint in the community it serves.
This fact sheet is written for operations managers, recycling coordinators, and other key decision-
makers involved in planning and managing airport operations.
How to Set Up a Recycling Program
The following are the basic steps for setting up a
recycling program in your airport:
Obtain senior management support.
Designate a recycling coordinator, either by con-
tracting with a recycling specialist or by training an
in-house employee.
Organize a "green team" of employees. For maxi-
mum effectiveness, enlist representatives from
different areas of the airport (terminals, concession-
aires, vendors, offices, retailers, maintenance, custo-
dial, security, and ticketing). These volunteers will
work with the recycling coordinator to review the
progress of the program and help resolve problems.
They also play a crucial education and outreach
role. Consider partnering with your local or state
environmental agency to gain additional assistance
setting up the recycling program.
Conduct a waste assessment to help identify mea-
sures you can take to reduce, reuse, and recycle.
Use the Airport Waste Assessment Questionnaire on
page 5 for guidance. Keep in mind fluctuations in
passenger volume, such as during the holiday travel
season, that will affect the amount of materials
generated in the waste stream.
Determine which materials will be collected and
recycled based on the waste assessment results.
Ask your current waste hauler if it provides recycling
services. When your current waste hauler's con-
tract terminates, consider requiring both waste and
Collection Methods
Decide if the materials will be collected as a
single stream or multi-stream. Single stream
programs combine all recyclables in one bin to
be sorted later at a materials recovery facility
(MRF), while multi-stream collection requires
that you separate each recyclable material
from the start.
recycling services in a new contract. If the current
hauler does not offer recycling services, identify
potential recycling service contractors. Involve haul-
ers and concessionaires in the recycling program
planning process as early as possible.
Design a collection system and determine whether
the recyclables will be collected separately or to-
gether (also called commingled). Who will collect
the materials? How often? Where will the materials
be stored?
Consider piloting a recycling program in one termi-
nal or office before expanding throughout the air-
port. This allows you to identify and troubleshoot
problems before implementing a wide-scale effort.
Remember, a successful program hinges on the
participation of airport employees,
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sionaires, vendors, ticket agents, $
and custodial staff. Ensure they are 5
educated and trained accordingly.
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Recycling Opportunities at Airports
On page 6 of this fact sheet you will find a
matrix that summarizes by source the typical
recyclables generated at airports. Consult
this matrix as you plan your airport recycling
program.
About Collection Bins
Purchase recycling bins that are similar in size to
trash cans, but distinctive (e.g., different colors
or shapes).
Purchase recycling bins that are manufactured with
recycled-content materials.
Label trash cans and recycling bins with both words
and pictures/symbols that are clear and concise for
international passengers. Be sure each visible side
of the collection bin is labeled. Bins with special
lids, such as lids with round holes to collect alumi-
num cans, can reduce contaminationtrash and
other materials not intended to be collected in that
specific bin.
Place recycling bins next to every trash can or con-
sider using a cluster of collection bins.
Mitigate the cost of new bins by purchasing models
that accommodate advertising.
Managing Your Recyclables
> Consider obtaining a compactor for recyclables from
your hauler or purchasing one to maximize storage
space and reduce the number of hauler pick-ups.
Provide concessionaires and retailers with a financial
incentive to recycle. If you have central waste and
recycling compactors, consider charging them a
fee for using the trash compactor but not for the
recycling compactor.
Monitor and evaluate your program to track suc-
cess, identify problems, and find opportunities
for expansion.
Making It Work
Add recycling practices to your employee and con-
cessionaire policies and procedures.
Measure and publicize your success. Require
recyclers to report the quantities they collect, and
then share these successes with employees and the
public. Submit press releases to local newspapers
and display recycling posters in the terminals.
Conduct periodic training programs for employees
and ask for feedback to further improve the program.
Also solicit feedback from your tenants, staff, cus-
tomers, and travelers.
Airport Recycling Examples
Baltimore/Washington International
Thurgood Marshall Airport
Recycling at Baltimore/Washington International
Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) has taken off since
its start in 2004, growing from less than 5 percent
of waste generated when the program began, to 28
percent in May 2006.
The Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA)
initiated the recycling program and credits its
success to partnerships among several groups.
These include BAA Maryland, Inc. and other
airport tenants; Chimes, the recycling collection
service; BFI, the hauler and processor; Midpoint
International, the container supplier; and
Maryland Environmental Service, the technical
support contractor.
Recycling collection at BWI consists of 33
recycling containers on the airfield and in cargo
areas and 43 recycling containers in the terminal
building for passenger and tenant use. Each
recycling container in the terminal has designated
compartments for trash, newspaper, plastic and
glass bottles, and aluminum cans.
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BWI began by recycling newspapers, bottles,
and cans. It later added corrugated boxes, which
account for more than 100 tons of recyclables per
month. BWI also collects other paper products,
scrap metal, and tires. The recycling program
saves approximately $ 15,000 per year in reduced
landfill costs, lower compactor maintenance fees,
and revenue from the sale of recyclables that
offsets disposal costs.
The MAA hopes to reach a 30 to 40 percent
recycling rate using the current system and is
relying on employee education and training and
tenant responsibility to make it happen.
Buying Recycled
Take your program a step further by "closing the
loop"purchase products made with materials
recovered from recycling. If you already buy
recycled, consider increasing recycled content.
Some examples of recycled-content items are:
Recycling bins and trash cans
Office paper and some supplies
Tissue products
Toner cartridges
Corrugated cardboard
Plastic pallets
Building materials
Carpet
Oil
Uniform apparel and safety vests
Salt Lake City Department of Airports
The Salt Lake City Department of Airports
(SLCDA) is home to a comprehensive recycling
program that targets recyclables generated
both by the public and in-house. In 2003, the
concourse recycling program began by collecting
newspaper and plastic from 40 recycling stations
throughout the two terminals. In 2005, the
SLCDA concourse recycling program diverted
approximately 70 tons of plastic and newspaper
from the airport waste stream.
Recycling, however, takes place on a much
larger scale in the airport's internal operations,
such as in offices and behind ticket counters.
Approximately 16 tons of cardboard are collected
each month, along with varying amounts of
electronic waste, concrete, asphalt, scrap metal,
motor oil, diesel fuel, vehicle antifreeze, air-
conditioning refrigerant, lead/acid batteries,
tires, and paint. Plant material is collected for
composting, and excavated soil, if suitable for
construction fill, is placed in areas where future
construction projects are likely to occur.
In addition, every division collects office paper,
magazines, paperboard, plastics, newspaper,
aluminum, and unwanted mail together in
a single stream. Employees receive desk-side
recycling boxes that are emptied into a larger
central collection point in each office area and
collected weekly. Revenue generated from the
recycling program is used to offset annual waste
collection and disposal costs.
SLCDA evaluates its recycling program
periodically to identify opportunities for potential
improvement and expansion.
San Diego International Airport
San Diego International Airport (SDIA)
implemented a single stream recycling program
in July 2002.
The City of San Diego recognized the airport as the
Recycler of the Year in 2004, the second recognition
from the city since the program's inception.
Collection takes place in the terminals and
throughout the airport's offices and departments.
Fifty collection bins are located throughout the
terminals to collect mixed paper, glass bottles,
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aluminum and steel cans, and plastic beverage
bottles. The amount of materials recycled at the
airport increased from 107 tons in 2002 to more
than 362 tons in Fiscal Year 2006.
SDIA conducts comprehensive program outreach
and education to airport concessionaires,
vendors, tenants, and staff. The airport created
a handbook, in both Spanish and English,
explaining its recycling program. The handbook:
Introduces employees to the recycling program.
Describes and promotes single stream recycling.
Provides program guidelines and recycling facts.
Explains the benefits of recycling.
Outlines what can and cannot be recycled through
the program.
The Recycling at San Diego International Airport
Handbook can be found at: .
Also visit the Recycle on the Qo Web site at for more information
and success stories.
Recycle
ontfitTG
EPA is partnering with
other federal agencies,
states, municipalities, and
organizations to promote
recycling away from home.
www.epa.gov/recycleonthego
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Airport Waste Assessment Questionnaire
Facility Description
What functional areas are within the airport fa-
cility (e.g., ticketing, security gates, arrival and
departure gates, baggage claim, corridors,
food service areas, retail stores, offices, public
information centers, conference rooms, sup-
ply areas, mail centers, loading docks, vehicle
maintenance areas)?
How many terminals are in the airport?
How many functional areas are located in
each terminal?
Where are these areas located? (A floor plan
is helpful.)
Passengers
On average, how many passengers travel
through the airport annually?
On average, how many passengers travel
through the airport each day?
What times of day see the heaviest passenger
traffic?
What times of year (e.g., holidays, seasons)
see the heaviest passenger traffic?
Personnel
How many airport employees and on-site
contractors work at the facility?
Approximately how many employees and on-
site contractors work in each terminal?
Who is responsible for waste management in
the facility?
Who will oversee the recycling program?
Is there a "green team" of employee volunteers
for the facility? If so, who serves on this team
and what functional areas do they represent?
What other individuals will influence or play a
role in designing and implementing the recy-
cling program (e.g., concessionaires, vendors,
security personnel, airline representatives, jani-
torial contractor)?
Waste Generation and Flow
Can you estimate what portion of the waste
stream is recyclable (e.g., bottles, cans, cor-
rugated cardboard, newspaper)?
Where are waste receptacles located (e.g., food
service areas, corridors, arrival/departure gates)?
Describe the types of receptacles used to col-
lect trash (material composition, shape, size,
capacity, lid type, color).
Who collects waste throughout the facility?
What is the process for handling waste, from
emptying receptacles to pick-up by
the hauler?
Who monitors the collection process for waste?
Is there a staging area? A compactor?
Who is the waste hauler for the facility? Does
this hauler also offer recycling services?
Is waste pick-up done on a scheduled or as-
needed basis?
Where does the waste go after it is removed
from the facility? What is its final destination?
Does your facility have space that can be des-
ignated for aggregating/compacting/staging
recyclables?
Metrics
Does the facility track the weight of waste be-
ing removed? If so, how do you arrive at these
numbers (e.g., on-site scale, weekly/monthly
weight reports from hauler)?
How far back can you track the weight of
waste being removed from the facility?
What is the airport's annual waste removal cost?
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Typical Recyclables Generated at Airports by Source
Electronics
Pallets
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Food Waste
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Oil
X
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Construction
& Demolition
Materials*
X
X
X
Tires
Refrigerant
Antifreeze
Motor Oil
Scrap Metal
Batteries
Toner
Cartridges
Corrugated
Cardboard
X
XX X
X
X
X
X X
X
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XXXX X
X
Mixed Paper
Newspaper
Glass
Aluminum
Cans
Plastic
Beverage
Bottles
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X
X
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X
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Includes wood, asphalt, and concrete.
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