Continental Airlines claims major success with its expanded inflight and terminal recycling programme
(photo: Houston Airport System)
Mon 16 Nov 2009 – Continental Airlines has reported a major increase in the amount of waste material it has recycled this year. The airline has collected more than four million pounds (1,800 tonnes) of mixed recyclables during 2009 at its Houston Intercontinental, New York Newark and Cleveland hubs, an 800 percent year year-on-year increase. Mixed recyclables – newspapers, cans and plastic bottles – are collected in designated ‘EcoSkies’ recycling bins. Proceeds from the recycling are re-invested back into the programme or donated to We Care, a non-profit charity organization that provides financial assistance to company employees in need.
In 2008, Continental’s expanded inflight and flight kitchen recycling efforts resulted in the recovery of 462 tons (420 metric tonnes) of plastic and aluminium, and more than 1,300 tons (1,180 tonnes) of cardboard. So far in 2009, the airline has recovered more than 1,500 tons of plastic and aluminium, and more than 30,000 tons of cardboard.
“While Continental has had a robust recycling programme for more than a decade, we have made substantial enhancements to the programme throughout 2008 and 2009, increasing recycling onboard our aircraft, at our airport terminals and at other supporting facilities, like our food service kitchens,” said
Leah Raney, Continental’s Managing Director of Global Environmental Affairs. “We have had strong encouragement and support from our co-workers and customers, and we are excited to see such great results.”
Continental also encourages recycling by contract caterers at the non-hub airports it serves. More than 91% of its domestic caterers and over 87% of its international caterers recycle.
The airline says it has recycled enough aluminium to build 20 Boeing 777 airplanes.
