Waste

Like in a city, all sorts of waste is generated at Zurich Airport. Virtually all the waste is either recycled or thermally utilised.

CONSERVING RESOURCES

The primary objective of waste management is to avoid waste from the outset. Nonetheless, a considerable volume of waste is generated at Zurich Airport. When collecting waste, Flughafen Zürich AG separates out reusable materials so they can be recycled. Non-recyclable waste is burned in a waste incineration plant and the heat produced is used to generate electricity and supply a district heating network. The majority of the waste is therefore either recycled or thermally utilised.

SITUATION IN 2002

There was a significant decrease in the volume of waste generated in the year under review. 8,623 tonnes of waste were collected in 2020, 53% less than in the previous year. The proportion of waste sent for recycling was 55.2%, while non-recyclable waste accounted for 43.1%.

Less PET was collected, just 128 tonnes (64% less than in the previous year). Likewise, the volume of liquids confiscated at security checkpoints fell to 56 tonnes (–72%).

To enable a comparison with other airports to be made, the quantities indicated were defined by the German airports association (ADV).