Food Donation Programs
Based on our concessionaire focus group discussions , a limited number of them individually participate in packaged food donation programs which send food to shelters . However , most simply discard pastdate food into the trash . This results in tons of wasted food that could improve the lives of community members struggling with hunger , as well as higher MSW disposal costs . There are certain logistical and security challenges associated with such programs , but it does appear to be a relatively low-cost initiative with meaningful benefits to the surrounding communities . Many of our peer airports have more comprehensive food donation programs and we intend to study those and see what we can replicate at our facilities .
Abandoned Luggage
A surprisingly large number of suitcases and other assorted luggage is left behind at our airports . If a wheel breaks on a suitcase , for example , or if a passenger needs to consolidate two bags into one at the gate , often these bags are simply left behind in the terminal and for the most part end up in the trash . It is possible that this luggage could be repaired and donated to homeless shelters , foster care facilities , or secondhand stores . Regardless , it is an example of some of the non-traditional waste we handle and the need to be creative and think about low cost ways to minimize what ends up in our waste stream .
Increase Rates of Recycling
What the data tells us is that we have a lot of work to do with regards to outreach and education for our airport stakeholders as to the proper way to recycle . We also must think creatively about how we provide recycling services to all our concessionaires given the limited space within which they operate . Fortunately , many of these issues with recycling are behavioral in nature , and ideally can be addressed in relatively low-cost ways . For example , we can :
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Ensure that labeling of bins is clear as to what is recyclable and what is trash to minimize contamination
Develop standardized training materials for all new employees at our concessions and continuously reinforce these standards so everyone knows how and where to recycle
� Work with our cleaning crews to make sure they dispose of trash and recyclables properly , giving them additional equipment and training if necessary
In addition to these lower-cost measures , other higher-cost opportunities to increase our recycling rates and reduce contamination include the following :
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Continue to add recycling bins across our facilities to make sure a recycle bin is always colocated with a garbage bin . As we heard from our concessionaires , the closest bin is the easiest to use and so we need to make it easy for people to recycle . Per our waste management contract at Dulles , the annual cost to rent a recycle bin is $ 240 / year . As we add recycling bins , our recycling costs will increase as well at a $ 20 per-ton premium over MSW
Install liquid disposal stations throughout the airport ( including at Transportation Security Administration ) to reduce both the incidence of contamination and the weight of our recyclables , each of which imply higher costs . We have held initial conversations with our beverage partner , Pepsi , on financing these disposal stations , which cost approximately $ 2,000 each
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