PHX Perspective

Waste Not at America’s Friendliest Airport®

Phoenix Sky Harbor’s robust recycling program continues to grow. In fact, each time you travel through Phoenix Sky Harbor, you have the opportunity to make a difference by recycling.

Recycling Coordinator Jerry Haws said the goal is to make it very easy for travelers to recycle. Such initiatives include co-located trash and recycle bins through the airport. There are more than 200 airport-wide.

“We try to put them as close as we can so when passengers are walking through the airport, they don’t have to go more than 100 feet to find a recycling can,” Haws said.

For the traveler, the most important thing to know is that recycling is easy and most anything can be recycled with the exception of food waste.

“We want everyone to know that they make a difference,” Haws said. “Recycling does make a difference. Even if it is one bottle, one newspaper, one aluminum can – they make a difference.”

Additionally, Haws has been working extensively to educate airport businesses about what can and cannot be recycled with signs, presentations and more. A mobile-friendly page on the website is available for employees to visit or scan a QR code directing them to the page. On the page, a detailed listing provides more information to make it even easier to know what can be recycled.

“We (the Airport) generate approximately 10,000 tons of waste every year,” Haws said. “Currently, we are recycling about 25% of that. Our goal, however, within the next three to four years is to get that number to a 50% increase year over year.”

One of the many innovative ways that Phoenix Sky Harbor has upped recycling efforts is by using reclaimed asphalt millings to stabilize soil and control dust. Green trimmings are also used as mulch. To find out more information on our efforts, please visit http://skyharbor.com/community/wasteReduction.html

Published: July 30, 2012