Develop and implement an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan.
An airport operator may develop and implement an integrated solid waste management plan to maximize source reduction, recycling, and composting and to minimize the amount of waste disposed of in a landfill or incinerator. Reducing landfill waste reduces the production of methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) with a global warming potential 21 times greater than carbon dioxide. Reducing incinerator waste reduces carbon dioxide, a GHG, as well as other air pollutants. An integrated solid waste management plan outlines how airport operators may reduce, manage, and dispose of waste by taking institutional, social, financial, economic, technical, and environmental factors into consideration. A successful plan combines source reduction, recycling, composting, landfilling, incineration (with energy recovery), anaerobic digestion, and landfill gas recovery. Integrated solid waste management plans are practical documents that may assist airport operators in developing waste management programs by identifying goals and objectives and establishing action plans. The plan may consider the broad range of solid wastes typically produced at airports, including waste removed from arriving flights and other wastes (i.e., non- flight wastes) produced at passenger terminals, offices, catering facilities and airport maintenance facilities. Strong coordination with tenants and waste haulers is recommended to optimize waste management procedures and policies. Integrated solid waste management plans typically describe the current waste generation, identify existing waste management practices and recycling efforts, and develop waste handling protocols. Planning should identify deficiencies of the current system and opportunities for improvement. In addition, the size of the airport, number of tenants, distance to disposal sites, infrastructure needs, and estimated growth rate may be considered to develop cost estimates for waste management activities. Cost estimates should include both capital costs as well as operation and maintenance costs for each option and identify potential cost savings associated with recycling. In addition, integrated solid waste management plans may identify related environmental management measures that include site management, land contamination, noise assessment, and air and water quality management. Integrated solid waste management plans typically include a section on record keeping and reporting and require periodic inspections to evaluate optimal dumpster capacity, approved contents, environmental compliance as well as to measure progress and identify opportunities for continued improvement. Integrated solid waste management plans may also include training and awareness aids for building managers and support staff in solid waste management. The cost of developing an integrated solid waste management plan varies depending on in-house capability, sophistication of the current waste management system, and the scale of the plan. Most airport operators retain consultants to analyze the current system including waste stream audits, investigate waste handling options, and write the plan. Depending on airport size and plan complexity, plan development may cost between $20,000 and $200,000 US.
Practice Information
| Capital Cost: | Low Cost ($5,000 – $100,000 US) |
| O&M Cost: | High (>$100,000 US) |
| Payback Period: | Short (2 – 5 years) |
| Staffing Requirements: | Moderate (50 – 200 hours per month) |
| Reportability of Metrics: | Quantitative metric with baseline for comparison practices and is already tracked |
| Maturity of Practice: | Proven at multiple airports |
| Energy Reduction: | No effect on energy consumption |
| Environmental Benefits: | Moderate environmental benefit |
| Social Benefits: | Low social benefit |
Airport Characteristics
Categories
Case Studies
Multiple Airports
Other airports that have comprehensive solid waste management plans include Boston Logan International Airport; Chicago Midway International Airport; and London Gatwick Airport.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Chicago, Illinois
ORD’s waste management plan includes cardboard recycling and recycling of materials from building demolitions along with recycling in its terminals and at the Chicago Department of Aviation’s offices.
Portland International Airport (PDX), Portland, Oregon
PDX integrated waste removed from arriving flights into its recycling efforts by working with airlines to identify a convenient location for dumpsters to make it easier for the airlines to participate in the program.
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Seattle, Washington and Metropolitan Oakland International Airport (OAK), Oakland, California
SEA and OAK switched from decentralized to centralized solid waste management systems, combining several contracts into one larger waste management contract. This enabled the airports to negotiate a lower disposal fee.
Related Links
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Developing and Implementing an Airport Recycling Program”
U.S. Green Building Council, LEED, “LEED for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance”
Chicago Department of Aviation, “Water, Waste, and Energy”
Port of Portland, “Sustainability Context and Current PDX Efforts”
Metropolitan Oakland International Airport, “Recycling/Waste Reduction”
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