The best ways to manage waste at airports

Dealing with the waste created by airports is a massive operation. Waste is generated from a huge range of sources including rubbish collected in the Aeroplane themselves, as well as from the many and varied ground operations, e.g. shops, offices, restaurants, cargo operations, maintenance, hangars etc.

A spot check of the major airports reveals the size of the problem. Heathrow Airport witnesses more than 70 million passengers and 76,000 employees using its terminals every year, resulting in over 25,000 tonnes of waste to be dealt with. The goal is to recycle 70% of this waste by 2020. In 2014, Gatwick Airport produced nearly 10,000 tonnes of waste and have ambitions to recycle 70% of waste and send no untreated waste to landfill within a decade. Stansted Airport is on target to send zero waste to landfill after 2018 – it currently recycles 97% of its waste.

Effective recycling and waste management

The huge number of people producing waste makes it difficult to make sure everyone is on board with recycling, which is fundamental to sustainable development. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, anyone who produces, imports, keeps, stores, transports, treats or disposes of waste has a duty of care to take all reasonable steps to ensure that waste is managed properly or risk an unlimited financial penalty (if convicted in the Crown Court).

The legal obligations, coupled with public attention on airports’ carbon footprint and sustainability, makes it vital that airport waste management is as efficient and effective as possible.

In order to fulfill waste responsibilities at airports, the use of compactors and balers can significantly reduce costs, space, and time at the same time as helping those responsible for waste management to hit their recycling targets.

Phoenix Compactors has more than 30 years’ experience in airport waste management. We can help you assess your waste disposal needs and will provide a solution which help your boost your green credentials