Glasgow Airport has announced that it has increased its recycling rate to over 90 per cent, following the implementation of Zero Waste Scotland’s Resource Efficiency Pledge.
The scheme, coordinated by Resource Efficient Scotland (a programme of Zero Waste Scotland), asks businesses to ‘commit to reducing their impact on the environment by making better use of energy, water and raw materials’.
As part of the initiative, Glasgow Airport introduced a new recycling scheme involving the distribution of double bins throughout the terminal, to allow staff and passengers to separate general waste from recycling.
This has been accompanied by ‘targeted staff awareness training’, which has reportedly helped simultaneously boost recycling levels and reduce the contamination of recycling bins, resulting in savings in excess of £8,000 per year.
In addition, the airport introduced a number of other green initiatives, such as the installation of new, energy-efficient vending machines and lighting, and improvements to the airport’s air conditioning systems.
Businesses within the terminal building, including Boots the Chemist, JD Wetherspoons, Delware North, World Duty Free and Discover Glasgow have now also made a Resource Efficiency Pledge, which the airport has supported with the launch of a new set of ‘Golden Rules’ and by instilling a ‘waste-aware culture’.
Glasgow Airport claims that this has resulted in ‘significant improvements in waste collection and general service yard cleanliness’.
Staff commit to continued progress
Speaking about the airport’s achievements, 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.”
Vicky McDowell, Glasgow Airport’s Commercial Manager, added: “We are very proud of our achievements and of how our business partners came together to achieve this mutual goal. In late 2014 we formed an action group involving all our retailers to develop a charter, which became known as Keep It Clean Behind The Scenes.
“The charter was a joint agreement involving behavioural change, operational change and key performance indicator improvements. All 600 retail staff from over 30 businesses were trained in how to deliver the charter and we are delighted with the improvements we have seen so far. We look forward to seeing further developments come to fruition over the coming weeks and months.”
Find out more about the Resource Efficiency Pledge.
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How will the government and DMOs address the challenges of including glass in DRS while ensuring a level playing field across the UK?
There's no easy solution to include glass in the DRS while maintaining a level playing field. Potential approaches include a phased introduction of glass, potentially with higher deposits to reflect its logistical challenges. The government and DMOs could incentivise innovation in glass packaging design and subsidise dedicated return points for glass-handling. Exemptions for smaller businesses unable to handle glass might also be necessary. Any successful solution will likely blend several approaches. It must address the differing priorities of devolved administrations, balance environmental benefits with logistical and cost implications, and be supported by robust consumer education campaigns emphasizing the importance of glass recycling.