Detroit Metro Airport and Delta Expand Public Recycling Program

DETROIT, July 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --  Wayne County Airport Authority (WCAA) and Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) have expanded their commitment to the environment with the introduction of a new public recycling program at Detroit Metro Airport (DTW).  Beginning today, nearly 70,000 travelers who pass through DTW's McNamara Terminal each day will find that the airport's trash receptacles have been augmented by new, divided waste bins to collect recyclable plastic bottles, metal cans and paper separate from other trash.

"The Airport Authority is proud to partner with Delta to bring public recycling to Detroit Metro Airport's McNamara Terminal—home to Delta's second-largest hub and primary transpacific gateway," said WCAA Interim CEO Genelle Allen.  "The new collection, sorting and recycling effort expands a similar program launched at the North Terminal when it opened in 2008 and will now allow all DTW travelers to participate in this important environmental effort."

The Airport Authority and Delta have placed 19 of the new, divided bins in locations throughout McNamara Terminal concourses A, B & C.  Upon collection by airport maintenance staff, the recyclable contents of the new bins will be taken to one of four, dedicated recycling dumpsters placed below the terminal and then on to a local recycling center.  Additional recycling bins may be added based upon customer participation.  For now, the terminal's existing trash receptacles will also remain in place.

Nearly 7,080 tons of trash were removed from the McNamara Terminal in 2009.  How much of that waste could have been recycled is not known, but the Airport Authority and Delta encourage travelers to help maximize the amount of recyclable material by appropriately disposing of plastic bottles, metal cans and paper into one of the new recycling bins.

Both WCAA and Delta have long been industry leaders in recycling.  For nine of the past 10 years, DTW has recycled more aircraft de-icing fluid than any other airport worldwide.  More than 36,000 lbs. of paper are recycled from Airport Authority offices each year.  WCAA has also led an initiative to give used cooking grease from airport concessions a new life as biofuel to power airport service vehicles.  

In the air, Delta launched the industry's first comprehensive in-flight recycling program for waste collected on domestic flights into its Atlanta hub in 2007—a program that has since expanded to include 24 domestic routes with additions planned for this year.  Since its inception, Delta customers, employees, and business partners have collected more than 1.6 million pounds of newspapers and magazines, 1.3 million pounds of aluminum cans, and 348,000 pounds of plastics.  More than 2,000 tons of recyclable material have been collected and diverted from landfills across the U.S. system.

SOURCE Wayne County Airport Authority; Delta Air Lines