Recycling Best Practices—A Guidebook for Advancing Recycling from Aircraft Cabins (2013)

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A I R P O R T C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M ACRP REPORT 100 TRANSPORTAT ION RESEARCH BOARD WASHINGTON, D.C. 2014 www.TRB.org Research sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration Subscriber Categories Aviation • Administration and Management • Education and Training Environment • Maintenance and Preservation Recycling Best Practices— A Guidebook for Advancing Recycling from Aircraft Cabins CasCadia Consulting group Seattle, WA w i th leighFisher ManageMent Consultants Burlingame, CA and Mary loquvaM Consulting Bellingham, WA

AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM Airports are vital national resources. They serve a key role in trans­ portation of people and goods and in regional, national, and inter­ national commerce. They are where the nation’s aviation system connects with other modes of transportation and where federal respon­ sibility for managing and regulating air traffic operations intersects with the role of state and local governments that own and operate most airports. Research is necessary to solve common operating problems, to adapt appropriate new technologies from other industries, and to introduce innovations into the airport industry. The Airport Coopera­ tive Research Program (ACRP) serves as one of the principal means by which the airport industry can develop innovative near­term solutions to meet demands placed on it. The need for ACRP was identified in TRB Special Report 272: Airport Research Needs: Cooperative Solutions in 2003, based on a study spon­ sored by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The ACRP carries out applied research on problems that are shared by airport operating agencies and are not being adequately addressed by existing federal research programs. It is modeled after the successful National Coopera­ tive Highway Research Program and Transit Cooperative Research Pro­ gram. The ACRP undertakes research and other technical activities in a variety of airport subject areas, including design, construction, mainte­ nance, operations, safety, security, policy, planning, human resources, and administration. The ACRP provides a forum where airport opera­ tors can cooperatively address common operational problems. The ACRP was authorized in December 2003 as part of the Vision 100­Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The primary participants in the ACRP are (1) an independent governing board, the ACRP Oversight Committee (AOC), appointed by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Transportation with representation from airport operating agencies, other stakeholders, and relevant industry organizations such as the Airports Council International­North America (ACI­NA), the American Associa­ tion of Airport Executives (AAAE), the National Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO), Airlines for America (A4A), and the Airport Consultants Council (ACC) as vital links to the airport community; (2) the TRB as program manager and secretariat for the governing board; and (3) the FAA as program sponsor. In October 2005, the FAA executed a contract with the National Academies formally initiating the program. The ACRP benefits from the cooperation and participation of airport professionals, air carriers, shippers, state and local government officials, equipment and service suppliers, other airport users, and research orga­ nizations. Each of these participants has different interests and respon­ sibilities, and each is an integral part of this cooperative research effort. Research problem statements for the ACRP are solicited periodically but may be submitted to the TRB by anyone at any time. It is the responsibility of the AOC to formulate the research program by iden­ tifying the highest priority projects and defining funding levels and expected products. Once selected, each ACRP project is assigned to an expert panel, appointed by the TRB. Panels include experienced practitioners and research specialists; heavy emphasis is placed on including airport pro­ fessionals, the intended users of the research products. The panels pre­ pare project statements (requests for proposals), select contractors, and provide technical guidance and counsel throughout the life of the project. The process for developing research problem statements and selecting research agencies has been used by TRB in managing cooper­ ative research programs since 1962. As in other TRB activities, ACRP project panels serve voluntarily without compensation. Primary emphasis is placed on disseminating ACRP results to the intended end­users of the research: airport operating agencies, service providers, and suppliers. The ACRP produces a series of research reports for use by airport operators, local agencies, the FAA, and other interested parties, and industry associations may arrange for work­ shops, training aids, field visits, and other activities to ensure that results are implemented by airport­industry practitioners. ACRP REPORT 100 Project 02­15 ISSN 1935­9802 ISBN 978­0­309­28367­0 Library of Congress Control Number 2013953980 © 2014 National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION Authors herein are responsible for the authenticity of their materials and for obtaining written permissions from publishers or persons who own the copyright to any previously published or copyrighted material used herein. Cooperative Research Programs (CRP) grants permission to reproduce material in this publication for classroom and not­for­profit purposes. Permission is given with the understanding that none of the material will be used to imply TRB or FAA endorsement of a particular product, method, or practice. It is expected that those reproducing the material in this document for educational and not­for­profit uses will give appropriate acknowledgment of the source of any reprinted or reproduced material. For other uses of the material, request permission from CRP. NOTICE The project that is the subject of this report was a part of the Airport Cooperative Research Program, conducted by the Transportation Research Board with the approval of the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The members of the technical panel selected to monitor this project and to review this report were chosen for their special competencies and with regard for appropriate balance. The report was reviewed by the technical panel and accepted for publication according to procedures established and overseen by the Transportation Research Board and approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council. The opinions and conclusions expressed or implied in this report are those of the researchers who performed the research and are not necessarily those of the Transportation Research Board, the National Research Council, or the program sponsors. The Transportation Research Board of the National Academies, the National Research Council, and the sponsors of the Airport Cooperative Research Program do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of the report. Published reports of the AIRPORT COOPERATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAM are available from: Transportation Research Board Business Office 500 Fifth Street, NW Washington, DC 20001 and can be ordered through the Internet at http://www.national­academies.org/trb/bookstore Printed in the United States of America

The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. On the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, on its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg is president of the Institute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council. The Transportation Research Board is one of six major divisions of the National Research Council. The mission of the Transporta- tion Research Board is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, conducted within a setting that is objective, interdisciplinary, and multimodal. The Board’s varied activities annually engage about 7,000 engineers, scientists, and other transportation researchers and practitioners from the public and private sectors and academia, all of whom contribute their expertise in the public interest. The program is supported by state transportation departments, federal agencies including the component administrations of the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other organizations and individu- als interested in the development of transportation. www.TRB.org www.national-academies.org

C O O P E R A T I V E R E S E A R C H P R O G R A M S CRP STAFF FOR ACRP REPORT 100 Christopher W. Jenks, Director, Cooperative Research Programs Crawford F. Jencks, Deputy Director, Cooperative Research Programs Michael R. Salamone, ACRP Manager Joseph J. Brown-Snell, Program Associate Eileen P. Delaney, Director of Publications Ellen M. Chafee, Editor ACRP PROJECT 02-15 PANEL Field of Environment Patricia A. Haederle, American Chemistry Council, Washington, DC (Chair) Andy Duerr, Airport Recycling Specialists, Ft. Lauderdale, FL Stacy Fox, Port of Seattle - Aviation Environmental Programs, Seattle, WA Sam A. Mehta, San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco, CA Debbie Neel, Southwest Airlines Co., Dallas, TX Tom Opderbeck, American Airlines, Fort Worth, TX Steve Urlass, FAA Liaison Barbara P. Karn, National Science Foundation, Directorate for Engineering Liaison Tim A. Pohle, Airlines for America Liaison Christine Gerencher, TRB Liaison

ACRP Report 100: Recycling Best Practices—A Guidebook for Advancing Recycling from Aircraft Cabins is a simple­to­use guidebook of recycling strategies, including a set of recy­ cling best practices summary sheets targeted to specific airport­industry recycling practitio­ ners (summary sheets are available in Appendix B or can be downloaded from www.trb.org/ Main/Blurbs/169528.aspx). The guidebook targets airport operators, airlines, flight kitch­ ens, and others that may have an interest in recycling. The report describes procedures for recycling airport, airline, and flight kitchen waste and recommends action plans to improve recycling and reduce waste disposal costs for airports of varying sizes and characteristics. Recycling is a critical aspect of ongoing efforts by airports, airlines, and flight kitchens to reduce the cost of commercial solid waste disposal and improve environmental steward­ ship. As the industry (e.g., airports, airlines, and flight kitchens) continues to implement and expand recycling programs, it has become more important to improve compatibility and create synergy among various recycling programs. Implementing efficient and cost­ effective recycling within the industry presents many challenges. Collecting, separating, and storing materials on board aircraft during flight for removal and recycling on the ground poses logistical challenges. Likewise, airport and flight kitchen recycling programs are com­ plicated by state and local requirements, local recycling capabilities, infrastructure, waste­ hauling contracts, and airside safety concerns. As a result, airport recycling programs across the country differ significantly. Research was needed to provide guidance so that recycling programs are compatible and allow for cost savings to all participants. Under ACRP Project 02­15, a research team led by Cascadia Consulting Group examined industry practices, motivations, and implementation techniques. Research identified exist­ ing practice gaps and how various stakeholders within the industry could work together to increase recycling. F O R E W O R D By Michael R. Salamone Staff Officer Transportation Research Board

AUTHOR ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Cascadia Consulting Group served as the principal investigator for ACRP Project 02­15, with support from LeighFisher Manage­ ment Consultants and Mary Loquvam Consulting. The research team wishes to thank the many airlines, airports, and flight kitchens that participated in the research and contributed valuable information to support the development of this guidebook. Airlines Alaska Airlines American Airlines Delta Air Lines Great Lakes Airlines Southwest Airlines United Airlines (and Continental, formerly) US Airways Virgin America Flight Kitchens Gate Gourmet LSG Sky Chefs Airline in­house provisioning operations Airports Abilene Regional Airport, TX (ABI) Akron­Canton Airport, OH (CAK) Albany International Airport, NY (ALB) Albuquerque International Sunport, NM (ABQ) Anchorage International Airport, AK (ANC) Austin­Bergstrom International Airport, TX (AUS) Bangor International Airport, ME (BGR) Baton Rouge International Airport, LA (BTR) Billings Logan International Airport, MT (BIL) Blue Grass Airport—Lexington, KY (LEX) Boston Logan International Airport, MA (BOS) Bradley International Airport, CT (BDL) Buffalo Niagara International Airport, NY (BUF) Burbank Bob Hope Airport, CA (BUR) Charleston Yeager Airport, WV (CRW) Chicago O‘Hare International Airport, IL (ORD) Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, OH (CLE) Corpus Christi International Airport, TX (CRP) Dallas Love Field International Airport, TX (DAL) Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, TX (DFW) Dane County Regional Airport, WI (MSN) Daytona Beach International Airport, FL (DAB) Denver International Airport, CO (DEN) Fresno Yosemite International Airport, CA (FAT) Gerald R. Ford International Airport—Grand Rapids, MI (GRR) Greenville­Spartanburg Airport, SC (GSP) Hartsfield­Jackson Atlanta International Airport, GA (ATL) Jackson­Evers International Airport, MS (JAN) John F. Kennedy International Airport, NY (JFK) Kansas City International Airport, MO (MCI) LaGuardia Airport, NY (LGA) Lafayette Regional Airport, LA (LFT) Lambert­St. Louis International Airport, MO (STL) Long Beach Airport, CA (LGB) Los Angeles International Airport, CA (LAX/LAWA) Manchester Boston Regional Airport, NH (MHT) Midland International Airport, TX (MAF) Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport, MN (MSP) Nashville International Airport, TN (BNA) Newark Liberty International Airport, NJ (EWR) Northeast Florida Regional Airport—St. Augustine, FL (UST) Orlando Sanford International Airport, FL (SFB) Palm Beach International Airport, FL (PBI) Palm Springs International Airport, CA (PSP) Pensacola International Airport, FL (PNS) Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, AZ (PHX) Pittsburgh International Airport, PA (PIT) Port Columbus International Airport, OH (CMH) Portland International Airport, OR (PDX) Portsmouth International Airport, NH (PSM) Quad City International Airport—Moline, IL (MLI) Reno­Tahoe International Airport, NV (RNO) Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, VA (DCA) Salt Lake City International Airport, UT (SLC) San Antonio International Airport, TX (SAT) San Francisco International Airport, CA (SFO) San Jose International Airport, CA (SJC) Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, GA (SAV) Seattle­Tacoma International Airport, WA (SEA) Southwest Florida International Airport—Fort Myers, FL (RSW) Tallahassee Regional Airport, FL (TLH) Tampa International Airport, FL (TPA) Tulsa International Airport, OK (TUL) Washington Dulles International Airport, VA (IAD) Westchester County Airport, NY (HPN)

1 Summary 3 The Business Case for Recycling 3 Disposal of Aircraft Cabin Waste Costs Millions 3 Recyclables Are Valuable 5 Recycling Is an Industry Trend 5 Getting Ahead of Regulations 6 Contributing to a Healthy Environment 6 Recycling Creates Jobs 8 A Partnership for Advancing Recycling 10 Recycling Guidebook Overview 10 Best Practices 11 Supporting Research 13 Best Practice #1. Secure Top-Down and Bottom-Up Commitment to Boost Recycling Participation and Results 13 Why Is This Practice Important? 13 Key Steps to Gaining Commitment 13 Step 1: Gain Support from Executive Leadership 14 Step 2: Recruit and Empower Champions 15 Step 3: Establish an Interdepartmental Green Team 17 Best Practice #2. Make Purchasing Choices that Facilitate Recycling and Reduce Waste 17 Why Is This Practice Important? 18 Key Steps to Green Purchasing 18 Step 1: Consider Recyclable, Compostable, or Waste­Reducing Service Item Options 19 Step 2: Test Environmentally Preferable Products and Develop Specifications for Procurement 19 Step 3: Share Best Practices with Others 19 Step 4: Support the Procurement Department in Incorporating Green Purchasing 21 Best Practice #3. Maximize Recycling by Separating Materials in Flight 21 Why Is This Practice Important? 22 Key Steps to Successful In­Flight Separation 22 Step 1: Design a Recycling Program with Input from Key Participants 23 Step 2: Implement Consistent Procedures for Collecting and Storing Materials in Flight C O N T E N T S

24 Step 3: Ensure that Flight Attendants Have Adequate Information, Training, and Support 25 Step 4: Equip Flight Kitchen, Cabin Service, and Terminal Maintenance Personnel to Contribute to an Effective Recycling Program 27 Step 5: Engage and Educate Passengers Early and Often 28 Best Practice #4. Track, Evaluate, and Share Data on Program Performance to Promote Transparency and Support Continuous Improvement 28 Why Is This Practice Important? 28 Key Steps to Tracking and Evaluating Program Performance 29 Step 1: Conduct a Baseline Waste Assessment 30 Step 2: Work with Waste and Recycling Service Providers to Obtain Monthly Program Reports 30 Step 3: Track and Share Data on Program Performance and Identify Opportunities for Improvement 31 Step 4: Align Price Signals with Program Performance so that Participants Can Benefit from Recycling Achievements 32 Step 5: Share Results with Colleagues to Foster Transparency, Leadership, and Partnerships across the Industry 34 Best Practice #5. Make Recycling Part of Everyday Business and Celebrate Success 34 Why Is This Practice Important? 34 Key Steps to Make Recycling Part of Everyday Business and Celebrate Achievements 35 Step 1: Incorporate Recycling into New and Ongoing Employee Training 36 Step 2: Embed Recycling Expectations into Service Standards and Contracts 36 Step 3: Recognize and Reward Employees and Other Participants Who Contribute to Recycling 37 Step 4: Share Results and Celebrate Achievements with Program Participants and the Public 38 Implementing Best Practices 39 Taking It to the Next Level 39 Foster Industry Learning through Further Research and Collaboration 40 Improve Program Performance through Innovative Best Practices 41 Endnotes 43 Appendix A Definition of Terms 45 Appendix B Recycling Best Practices Summary Sheets 55 Appendix C Best Practices Resources 70 Appendix D Supporting Research 77 Appendix E Additional Best Practices Note: Many of the photographs, figures, and tables in this report have been converted from color to grayscale for printing. The electronic version of the report (posted on the Web at www.trb.org) retains the color versions.