Stuck at the Airport? Don’t Lose Your ‘Green’

All right, let’s clear the air before we begin here: yes, traveling during the holidays is tough. All that “Winter Wonderland” doesn’t look so magical when you’re staring at lists of canceled flights and hoping you and your bags will eventually end up in the same city.

With so many people crowding into the nation’s airports on their way to see family, make last-minute business trips or take winter vacations, airport waste will see a significant upswing.  Even if you might lose your cool with holiday travelers and long lines, you don’t have to lose your “green” too.

What’s In Place for You?

Recycle your in-flight trash by taking it home.

According to a report by the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), “The U.S. airline industry discards enough aluminum cans each year to build 58 Boeing 747 airplanes [...] and enough newspapers and magazines to fill a football field to a depth of more than 230 feet.”

In addition to that, at the rate of waste generation that many airports report (over one pound per traveler), the 30 largest airports in the country generate an amount of waste equal to that of a city the size of Miami.

But what about you, woebegone traveler? Many airports have implemented recycling programs for both flyers and businesses. Here are some examples:

• Sea-Tac: At Seattle-Tacoma, the 16th busiest airport in the country, recycling grew 800 percent from 2000 to 2005. In addition to general recycling (aluminum cans, glass, plastic and paper) for passengers, businesses recycle too. The airport sends out 1,000 gallons of cooking oil to a biodiesel plant and seven tons of coffee grounds and filters to a composting facility monthly.
• PDX Portland: The 34th busiest airport in the country also happens to have one of the highest recycling rates, topping out around 20 percent. The airport makes consumer recycling easy, with receptacles next to every trash can. PDX recycles cooking oil, hauling out 1,500 gallons per month. The airport also provides comprehensive recycling for all retail shops, including cardboard, paper and plastic wrap.
• LAX: With over 29 million passengers flying out of Los Angeles International Airport every year, the airport saved enough energy by recycling in 2004 to power 502 households and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equal to removing 2,228 passenger cars from the road for a year.
• FLL: Fort Lauderdale International Airport recycles using an on-site facility that processes approximately 7,000,000 pounds of solid waste per year from tenants, terminals, the Rental Car Center, offices and county facilities. Additionally, FLL’s maintenance facilities recycle waste oil, florescent bulbs, spent solvents, tires, batteries and unused paints.

What Can You Do?

When it comes to recycling at the airport, you’re not in the minority if you’re clamoring for more. In fact, according to the NRDC report, “more than 90 percent of passengers who travel on the five largest U.S. airlines fly to cities with local recycling goals or mandates.”

When flying this holiday season, there are easy actions you can make to minimize your waste at the airport:

• Reduce paper waste by renting books. Most airports have businesses that allow you to check out a book for a fee, then return it when you come back from your trip. You can also recycle your newspapers and magazines when you are done reading them.
• Buy products made from materials which your airport recycles. So, if you only see bins for plastics #1 and #2, try and buy drinks in bottles that can go in those bins afterward.
• Stash your trash (and by trash, we mean recyclables) in your carry-on to be recycled once you’ve reached your destination. This is really helpful when you’re flying, since not all airlines have in-flight recycling programs.