Atlanta Recycles congratulates Delta on their new recycling program!

 

DELTA LAUCHES RECYCLING PROGRAM

June 19, 2008

Delta has taken some great first steps to introduce recycling into our operations.  Within the last year, the company has implemented four recycling programs which capture materials from some unsuspecting places.

On June 1, 2007 Delta Air Lines began recycling on domestic in-bound flights to Atlanta, GA.  The In-Flight Recycling Program allows flight attendants to recycle aluminum cans, plastic bottles/cups and newsprint with minimal impact to Delta’s operations.  Once collected by the flight attendants, Cabin Services and Catering manage both the trash and the clearly marked recyclables.  Implementation of this program took more than one year of research and the coordination of 12 distinct internal and external organizations.   With one consistent collection program, expansion is possible after trash handling procedures at each airport are researched.  Delta currently recycles in 13 cities and has a goal to additional Delta domestic locations by the end of 2008. 

In September 2007, Delta partnered with Mohawk Aviation Carpet to collect and recycle worn aircraft carpet.  Historically this material was placed into dumpsters and destined for Georgia landfills.  Implementation of an aircraft carpet recycling program drove efficiency to the carpet reinstallation process as mechanics now roll the worn carpet up into manageable pieces for transport and storage.

On October 1, 2007, Delta opened the Employee Recycling Center (ERC) which allows Delta employees in Atlanta the ability to bring specific materials from home to work for recycling.  The ERC accepts aluminum and tin cans, #1 and #2 plastics, magazines, phone books, newspaper, paperboard, cardboard, junk mail and home office paper.  The ERC, designed to accommodate program expansion, began managing office paper, in February 2008, which is collected from desk-side bins at our World Headquarters.

During the first eleven months Atlanta’s In-Flight Recycling Program has collected and diverted 259 tons of material from local landfills.   Included in this figure are 25 tons of plastics and 24 tons of newsprint.  The Employee Recycling Center has recycled 124 tons of material during a nine month period, with mixed paper and office paper being the predominate waste streams.   Delta’s aircraft carpet program recently filled a 53 foot trailer with 45,000 pounds of worn carpet which was transported back to Mohawk for reclamation.

Recycling at Delta has taken hold and additional opportunities are being evaluated at both our Technical Operations Center and Reservations building here in Atlanta.  Stay tuned!