One of Scotland's busiest airports has nearly doubled its rate of recycling since signing up to a commitment to cut waste.
Glasgow Airport, working with its waste management contractor Biffa, has increased its recycling rate by more than 90 per cent since making a Resource Efficiency Pledge.
The free initiative, coordinated by Resource Efficient Scotland, a programme of recycling quango Zero Waste Scotland, asks businesses and organisations to commit to reducing their impact on the environment by making better use of energy, water and raw materials.
Since making the pledge, Glasgow Airport has introduced a new terminal recycling system, with double bins which separate general waste from recycling, encouraging passengers and staff to get involved in the recycling process.
This new system, together with targeted staff awareness training, has boosted recycling levels and reduced contamination of recycling bins across the campus, saving the airport over £8,000 per year.
The airport has also introduced a number of new energy efficiency measures including new vending machines from Glasgow-based Abercromby Vending, which alone have resulted in an annual saving of £11,000 in energy costs.
Other businesses across the airport campus, including Boots the Chemist, JD Wetherspoons, Delware North, World Duty Free and Discover Glasgow, have also now pledged to cut waste.
Glasgow Airport’s Commercial Manager, Vicky McDowell, said: “We are very proud of our achievements and of how our business partners came together to achieve this mutual goal."
Iain Gulland, chief executive of Zero Waste Scotland, said: “I’m delighted to see Glasgow Airport taking steps to make better use of the resources it uses, and the financial benefits speak for themselves. It’s great to see the airport taking further steps to improve its resource efficiency, by encouraging the other businesses based there to make a Pledge – I hope to see the campus working together in the future to continue on this green journey and become as sustainable as possible.”
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