Port of Seattle Expands Innovative Recycling Program

Partnership with Airlines Promotes Recycling On-Board Aircraft and Saves Money

The Port of Seattle Commission today approved the design of an incentive recycling program for off-aircraft trash by partnering with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport airlines, thus reducing waste sent to landfills and saving over $250,000 each year. With an estimated 40% of off-aircraft waste identified as recyclable, the Port of Seattle is leading the way nationally to expand the airport's recycling program.

The new centralized trash handling and recycling method will expand current Sea-Tac efforts to the airfield, where trash comes directly off aircraft. In addition to cost savings, the program will improve ramp safety, decrease air emissions and fuel consumption. Several airlines at Sea-Tac, including Alaska Air Group, have recently announced plans to participate in the off-aircraft recycling campaign.

"This project will provide a lower-cost and more effective trash and recycling system for our airline partners," said John Creighton, Port of Seattle Commission president. "The new infrastructure means the Port and the airlines are working together on reducing waste and encouraging more sustainable airport operations."

The project is expected to reduce the overall operating costs of the airlines and provide a more efficient and effective waste handling system compared to the current manually operated open-top dumpsters. Closed compactors with automatic doors prevent birds and rodents from extracting foreign objects that can be scattered across the ramp, reducing the risk of ingestion into aircraft engines.

Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air have already started recycling programs in conjunction with the Port of Seattle to reduce the amount of trash produced by their aircraft. The effort, part of a new environmental stewardship policy adopted by the airlines, will help recycle a large portion of the seven million aluminum cans and 400 tons of paper and magazines, as well as plastic bottles and cups the carriers would otherwise throw away each year.

"We are responding to customers and our own employees who have asked us to step up our recycling efforts," said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines staff vice president of in-flight services. "It's one of the most visible things we can do to show we're serious about our environmental responsibilities."

Sea-Tac's managers are working with several other western airports to create a standardized infrastructure for recycling programs around the nation. A common system will encourage the efficient use by airline staff.

More than $100,000 per year is saved through the current incentive recycling program with Sea-Tac's vendors within the terminal. That program recycles nearly 1,250 tons of material each year, including mixed paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, plastic, glass, coffee grounds and grease.

The airfield project's budget of approximately $1.6 million dollars will be recovered from airline usage fees. The Port and the airlines are expected to save $250,000 annually as a result of operating efficiencies within the project.

More Details
The new design includes six sets of large-capacity trash and recycling compactors at convenient locations throughout the airfield ramp areas. Each location will include one trash compactor and one recycling compactor. Auto monitoring systems will sense when the bins are near capacity to optimize hauling frequency and minimize truck traffic. Each use will be charged a per-toss fee for the trash compactor, while a toss in the recycling compactor will be free. An electronic key system will record usage by each tenant, airline, or concessionaire.

Project Timeline
Design - April 2008
Final funding authorization - June 2008
Start Construction - July 2008
Project Complete - May 2009