Sachin Walls
Airports have to manage a variety of waste, including municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition waste, green waste, food waste, deplaned waste, lavatory waste, spill cleanup and remediation waste, and hazardous waste. Liquids confiscated at security checkpoints are sorted by type and transferred to large, blue hazmat barrels with metal seals. These barrels are collected for disposal according to environmental regulations. Water-based solutions are sent to wastewater treatment facilities, while alcoholic beverages are treated separately due to their flammability. Vacuum toilet waste and wastewater from airplane lavatories are pumped out after each flight and disposed of separately to prevent clogging sewer lines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Liquids sorting | Liquids are sorted by type (e.g. shampoo, sunscreen, alcoholic beverages) |
| Containers | Liquids are stored in large, blue hazmat barrels with metal seals |
| Disposal | A waste management company collects the barrels for disposal according to environmental regulations |
| Wastewater treatment | Water-based solutions are sent to a wastewater treatment facility |
| Energy recovery | Non-flammable liquids are sent to a waste energy recovery facility (trash-to-steam plant) |
| Airport waste management | Vacuum toilet waste and wastewater from airplane lavatories are disposed of and treated to prevent clogging |
| Solid waste | Solid waste is ground and shredded to prevent damage to waste processing equipment |
| Recycling | Some airports implement recycling and composting programs with color-coded bins and signage |
| Construction waste | Airports generate construction and demolition waste that needs to be managed |
Liquids surrendered at security
It is important to note that the regulations and protocols for handling surrendered liquids can vary between airports. While some airports may simply discard the liquids, others may implement recycling or composting programs. For example, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) has a Blue Bag program where staff members place recyclables in blue bags for centralized collection and subsequent transportation to a waste management facility. Additionally, some airports provide liquid draining stations and encourage passengers to refill their empty bottles at dedicated water refill stations.
The handling of liquids surrendered at security is just one aspect of airport waste management. Airports generate various types of waste, including municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition waste, green waste, food waste, international deplaned waste, lavatory waste, and hazardous waste. Effective waste management in airports involves proper organization and collaboration with haulers to ensure materials end up in the correct waste streams.
To comply with airport security regulations, it is recommended that passengers pack liquids, gels, and aerosols over 3.4 oz or 100 ml in their checked baggage. These liquids should be packed in transparent, secure, tamper-evident bags, and it is advisable to retain the original receipt for proof of purchase. Any items that trigger an alarm or cannot be screened will not be permitted in carry-on baggage.
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Toilet waste
Vacuum toilets are now standard on commercial flights, replacing the older blue juice toilets. When the toilet is flushed, a valve opens, and air pressure sends the waste through a system of pipes to a holding tank at the rear of the plane. This tank can only be accessed from outside the plane, and it is emptied after landing by specialised trucks. The vacuum system is very effective, but it is noisy, and the toilets are small, with no water in the bowl.
The older blue juice toilets used a chemical deodorizer, such as Anotec (or blue juice) or Skykem, to break down waste and control odours. However, these toilets were prone to leaks, which could cause wastewater to freeze and then fall from the plane as blue ice during descent. They also used more water and were heavier, increasing fuel costs.
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Hazardous waste
Airports generate a large amount of waste, and with millions of passengers passing through each year, proper waste management is essential to ensure environmental safety and sustainability. Hazardous waste is one of the many types of waste that airports must manage. This includes industrial waste, as well as construction and demolition waste. Airports also deal with waste generated from aircraft operations, such as vacuum toilet waste and wastewater from airplane lavatories, which may contain a variety of "non-disposable" items that can clog sewer lines. To address this, airports like Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) have implemented programs to improve waste diversion rates. ABIA increased the number of receptacles in terminals, added recycling bins, and introduced a Blue Bag program for recyclables.
Additionally, airports must handle liquids surrendered by passengers at security checkpoints. These liquids are sorted by type and transferred to large, sealed barrels for disposal according to environmental regulations. Water-based solutions may be sent to wastewater treatment facilities, while flammable liquids, such as alcoholic beverages, require special handling.
To ensure compliance with environmental goals and regulations, organizations like Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) have conducted surveys to assess the sustainability practices of airports. The 2016 Benchmarking Survey revealed that the majority of responding airports have programs to reduce, reuse, or recycle materials, with a significant portion also implementing composting initiatives.
The management of hazardous waste at airports is crucial to protect public health and environmental safety, especially with the increasing passenger volumes and expansion of airport activities. By implementing proper waste management strategies, airports can contribute to sustainability and minimize the impact of waste on the environment.
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Recycling
Many airports have waste and recycling programs in place, but they vary depending on tenant agreements, hauler contracts, and other factors. A survey by the Airports Council International – North America (ACI-NA) board of directors found that 95% of responding airports have programs in place to reduce, reuse, or recycle materials, and over 30% have composting programs.
Some airports use signage to educate passengers on the waste and recycling options available. For example, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) uses the slogan "Recycle Y'all" and provides blue recycling bins with Saturn cutouts throughout the facility. Seattle's airport (SEA) also uses signage and colour-coded bins to indicate where passengers can properly dispose of trash, recyclables, and compostables. They also offer liquid draining stations and encourage passengers to refill their bottles at dedicated water refill stations.
Haulers often work directly with airports to boost diversion rates. For instance, Texas Disposal Systems (TDS) has helped ABIA more than double its diversion rates by increasing the number of receptacles in the terminal, adding recycling bins next to every trash bin, and implementing a Blue Bag program where staff place recyclables in blue bags to be sent to a centralized collection point.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also provides guidance and grants to airports to enhance recycling, reuse, and waste reduction programs. This includes technical guidance on preparing airport recycling plans and addressing solid waste recycling in airport master plans.
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Waste disposal
One of the key challenges is the variety of waste generated at different locations, such as terminals, aircraft hangars, cargo areas, kitchens, and offices. Airports must also manage the waste from planes, which includes vacuum toilet waste and wastewater from lavatories. This waste contains a range of non-disposable items, such as plastics, textiles, and wipes, which can clog sewer systems. To overcome this, some airports use grinding systems to process this waste before it is flushed into the sewer system.
Airports also deal with liquids surrendered by passengers at security checkpoints. These liquids are sorted by type and placed in sealed containers, then transferred to large, blue hazmat barrels. A waste management company typically handles the disposal, sending water-based solutions to wastewater treatment or waste energy recovery facilities. Flammable liquids, such as alcoholic beverages, are treated separately.
To improve waste management, airports implement programs to reduce, reuse, and recycle materials. They use signage and colour-coded bins to educate passengers on proper waste disposal and recycling options. Some airports, like Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, have increased the number of recycling bins and introduced programs to separate recyclables for centralised collection.
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Frequently asked questions
Waste liquids at the airport are handled in different ways depending on the type of liquid and the airport's waste management systems. Water-based solutions like toiletries are sent to waste energy recovery facilities or wastewater treatment facilities. Flammable liquids, such as alcoholic beverages, are disposed of separately due to their potential flammability.
Airport waste management involves handling various types of waste generated at the airport, including municipal solid waste (MSW), construction waste, food waste, deplaned waste, and hazardous waste. Airports must manage these different waste streams efficiently and in compliance with regulations.
Airports implement various strategies to manage large volumes of waste. Some common approaches include increasing the number of receptacles, providing recycling bins, and introducing composting programs. Haulers work closely with airports to improve diversion rates, and specialized equipment, such as grinders, is used to handle tough solids and prevent clogging in sewer systems.
One significant challenge is the variation in regulations and programs across different airports and tenants, such as airlines, which can make it difficult to implement consistent waste management practices. Additionally, the diverse sources of waste within the airport, including terminals, aircraft maintenance hangars, and flight kitchens, further complicate waste management efforts.
Airports use signage and color-coded bins to educate passengers and staff on waste and recycling options. They also collaborate with waste management companies to ensure proper disposal and treatment of different waste streams, adhering to environmental regulations. Some airports conduct surveys and set environmental goals to improve their waste management practices.
