Seattle Unveils New Recycling Program

Well, I could write more about the volcano story - but there's not much else to say other than that it sucks big time, and the airlines are working hard to get as many flights operating safely as possible. So, back to airport news.

I found an interesting story in Roger Yu's regular Airport Check-In column in USA Today - the Port of Seattle has unveiled a new recycling program at Sea-Tac airport that it claims "will reduce waste sent to landfills, improve ramp safety, decrease air emissions, and save more than $250,000 each year."

The program involves consolidating all of the airport's recycling airport operations - in the past this was handled by each carrier individually. The airport has placed six large compactors around the airport that all airlines will use, though the amount of recycling by each airline can be tracked with the use of the key card. The airport says that it will give financial incentives for the use of the new system - it's free to use, and airlines will see a discount on their trash bill if they recycle.

Meanwhile, the amount of space in the new compactors is monitored by computers. Since they're larger, too, this means that collection trips will be made less often and only when needed. This is a move that not only reduces emissions of ground vehicles, but it also has positive effects on ramp safety.

To me, this is a good move - a cost-effective move that helps the environment is always a smart idea. And it's especially good for airports and airlines, who are constantly (fairly or not) criticized for their environmental impact.