2012 ACI-NA Environmental Achievement Award Entry Form One Project per Entry Form

Transcription

1 2012 ACI-NA Environmental Achievement Award Entry Form One Project per Entry Form Entries due Friday, June 29 th, 2012 San Francisco International Airport Airport Name Sam Mehta Contact Name Environmental Manager Contact Title P.O. Box 8097 Address San Francisco CA City State Zip Phone SFO Solid Waste Management Programs Project Name Check Award Category Environmental Management Mitigation Outreach, Education and Community Involvement x Innovative/Special Projects Entry Fee Due: $80.00 Payment by x Check (made payable to ACI-NA) Credit Card Mastercard VISA American Express Card Number Exp. Date Name as Shown on Card Signature

2 ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program Bottom Line 75% Recycling Achievement : Solid Waste 90% Construction & Demolition San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the premier airport serving Northern California, located on San Francisco Bay 14 miles south of the City. SFO serves over 39 million passengers annually and is staffed by over 1800 full time employees. SFO has taken concrete measures in recent years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce solid waste generation, and increase solid waste recycling. In FY 2011, SFO progressively increased the rate of recycling of solid waste and achieved a 75% recycling rate by year end. SFO is continuing to enhance the source separation operations with the aim of achieving the City s recycling goals of 85% by 2017 and Zero Waste (90% or more) by We have estimated that solid waste recycling at the airport offset our GHG emissions by over 2600 tons in Our recycling rate of 75% does not include recycling of construction and demolition waste, which consistently exceeds 90% on major airport construction projects. SFO s solid waste management program includes waste reduction, source separation, and composting. Relevant measures implemented at SFO include the following: Included a clause in all food concessionaires lease agreements at Terminal 2 requiring the concessionaires to provide biodegradable food-ware. Initiated an annual waste characterization study to better understand the composition of solid waste streams and evaluate progress in the recycling operations. Reduced water bottle waste by providing drains in pre-security checkpoint areas and re-fill hydration stations in post-security areas. Reduced paper waste in restrooms by installing electric hand dryers to minimize the use of paper towels. Required enhanced off-site source separation of mixed waste and increased composting of biodegradable waste. Partnered with contractors to achieve over 90% construction waste recycling on major projects. Monitored custodial staff and tenants to ensure proper segregation of waste at collection points and at temporary waste storage facilities. We believe that our success in implementing these programs in a large airport is primarily due to partnership and effective communication between internal and external stakeholder groups at the airport. All of the solid waste programs implemented by SFO are low cost or no cost actions, developed to promote recycling and waste reduction. At SFO, the costs of sending solid waste to a landfill or to a composting facility are equivalent. On-site sorting of recyclable materials is an added monetary benefit to the airport. All source separated materials are off hauled at no cost to SFO and for some materials such as aluminum cans, mixed metals, glass, etc. SFO receives a payment from the waste hauler.

3 Description of SFO and Solid Waste Management Programs Introduction San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is the premier airport serving Northern California, located on San Francisco Bay 14 miles south of the City. SFO serves over 39 million annually and is served by over 1,800 full time employees. SFO has long demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship, implementing ambitious initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. SFO strives for excellence and identifies environmental sustainability as one of the key pillars of its mission. SFO continues to improve the recycling and waste minimization operations throughout the Airport. Notably, SFO has increased the solid waste recycling rate from 51% in 2002 to an impressive 75% in 2011, bringing SFO close to achieving the intermediate goal of recycling 80% of the generated solid waste by SFO s recycling in 2011 included composting 39% of airport waste. In addition, SFO continues to recycle almost all of the construction and demolition waste generated at the Airport, consistently recycling over 90% of these wastes. SFO s solid waste management program includes the following elements: Solid Waste Recycling and Composting Material Use Reduction Waste Separation Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Airport Solid Waste Recycling and Composting In 2011, about 9,309 tons of solid waste was generated at SFO, of which 6,961 tons or 75% was recycled. SFO s recycled solid waste is composed primarily of food/compostable materials (39%), cardboard (14%), and paper (14%), as shown on the adjacent pie chart. ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program 2

4 FY2011 Composition of Airport Solid Waste Food/ Compostable Materials 39% Wood 1% Cardboard 14% Wastewater Treatment Sludge 1% Refuse (landfilled) 25% Paper 14% Metal, Glass, Plastic 6% SFO recycled an impressive 75% of the solid waste generated in The recycled materials consisted primarily of food and other compostable materials, paper, and cardboard. Improved On-Site Recycling The solid waste recycling rate at SFO has increased rapidly since 2007, as shown in the above graph. This increase in SFO s recycling rate can be attributed to improved on- and off-site sorting of waste, as well as the success of SFO s comprehensive composting program. SFO proactively seeks to improve on-site recycling by making sure adequate recycling containers are provided for passenger and tenant use and by ensuring that they are strategically placed in convenient locations. SFO strives to improve on-site recycling. Each year, SFO conducts a Waste Characterization Study by an outside consultancy to understand the types of waste generated throughout the Airport and to identify where improvements can be made to increase the recycling rate. The study allows SFO to evaluate patterns and is also a means of evaluating progress from year to year. SFO s Custodial Services occasionally assigns staff to monitor proper sorting at collection stations to ensure that source separated materials are diverted in the correct containers. This outreach is effective in helping custodial staff and tenants develop habits of recycling and materials separation. SFO engages in efforts to reduce the amount of water bottles left at security checkpoints. Following an example at Portland International Airport (PDX), SFO has provided at pre-security a drain to empty liquid from water bottles. Signage is provided to educate passengers that plastic bottles can be emptied and reused at hydration stations located post-security. This reduces the amount of plastic bottles and water waste generated. Water collected in the drain is emptied by SFO Custodial Staff into the sanitary A drain to empty plastic water bottles sewer. pre-security. ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program 3

5 Airport Solid Waste Recycling Rate ( ) Recycling Rate (%) SFO s ambitious recycling program successfully diverted from landfill 75% of airport solid waste from landfills, up from 51% in Composting SFO successfully transformed a 2006 pilot food waste separation program into an ongoing large-scale composting program. Currently, food waste along with biodegradable materials, landscaping trimmings, and wastewater treatment sludge is transported to off-site composting facilities. In 2011, SFO composted 3,661 tons of food and biodegradable waste, or 39% of SFO s total annual waste. The success of the Airport s composting program has significantly contributed to the increase in the Airport s overall solid waste recycling rate. The Food Court in Terminal 2 (T2) boasts a Sustainable food court where concessionaires are required, as part of their lease agreement, to provide biodegradable tableware, plates, containers, etc. for all food products sold. Inside the food court is a centralized waste collection area consisting only of two bins types; compost and bottles and cans. This measure enables the recycling and composting of 100% of the waste generated by Terminal 2 food concessionaires. As part of the new facility, concessionaires also have easy access to recyclables and compost containers. The T2 composting program will be extended to other locations as terminal spaces are renovated and tenant leases renewed. Waste containers in Terminal 2 food court to collect compost and bottles and cans. Wastewater Treatment Plant Waste Reduction and Recycling SFO continues to manage sludge from its treatment plants in order to minimize the impact of these facilities. To reduce the volume and weight of the sludge transported and disposed of in landfills, the Airport dries anaerobically digested sludge on sand beds. In 2011, 92 tons of sludge was dewatered and delivered to a composting facility. ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program 4

6 Material Use Reduction Although recycling is integral to minimizing the waste sent to landfills, reducing the use of materials is just as important. SFO has implemented a successful resource conservation program that has helped reduce the airport s overall generation of solid waste by 7% since its peak in 2007, as indicated on the graph below. SFO s resource conservation program seeks to educate, encourage, and persuade Airport staff, tenants, and the general public to generate less waste at the Airport. These initiatives address primarily the use of office paper, plastic bottles, and paper towels and are described below. Total Airport Solid Waste and Passenger Trends ( ) Solid Waste (tons) 12,000 10,000 8,000 6,000 4,000 40,000,000 35,000,000 30,000,000 25,000,000 20,000,000 15,000,000 Passengers A National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Trash Landing Report December 2006 estimates 1.28 lbs of waste generated/passenger (national average). In FY2011, SFO generated 0.48 lbs. of waste/passenger, of which waste/passenger was sent to landfill. 2, ,000,000 5,000,000 0 In recent years, SFO has reduced its overall generation of waste, despite increased number of passengers traveling through the Airport. Total Waste Passengers Office Paper Use Reduction SFO staff has developed a paper use reduction program, pursuant to the Mayor s Executive Directive. The program has the following elements: Paper Allocation: SFO assigns a paper allocation to each Division at 80% of the previous year s consumption and requires the submittal of a special request if the assigned allocation is prematurely exhausted. The Airport has achieved 50% paper use reduction from 2005 levels. Double-Sided Printing: SFO has programmed all printers and copiers to produce double-sided prints or copies and has posted signs at all copying machines encouraging users to save paper and avoid unnecessary copying and printing. Electronic Document Transfer: SFO encourages all staff to transmit documents electronically, wherever possible. ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program 5

7 Hydration Stations In 2011, SFO installed Hydration Stations in key locations at the terminal complex with the goal of decreasing the waste generated from singleuse plastic bottles that were being thrown away as a result of the security screenings. These Hydration Stations provide passengers with a convenient way to refill personal water bottles after passing security. Hydration Stations Refill, reuse and refresh at SFO s new Hydration Stations. These innovative water bottle refill stations provide access to San Francisco s free, high-quality, great tasting tap water. San Francisco tap water pristine Sierra snowmelt that comes from the Hetch Hetchy reservoir located in Yosemite National Park and from two protected local watersheds in the Bay Area is some of the purest, safest and best tasting water in the world. The Hydration Stations also encourage the conservation of our natural resources and preservation of our environment by helping to reduce the solid waste created from single-use plastic water bottles. A reuseable water bottle ready to be filled at one of SFO s hydration stations. ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program 6

8 Paper Towel Use Reduction SFO has experimented with the use of electric hand dryers in the Airport terminal restrooms. The results of the pilot program have been promising and plans are being made for widespread use of these hand dryers throughout the Airport. The use of electricity by the dryers is mitigated by the benefits derived from saving paper towels. In terminal restrooms that still use paper towels, SFO has posted signs on dispensers encouraging users to Please conserve natural resources. Take only what you really need. Waste Separation At SFO solid waste has been historically transported to, and disposed of in landfills. In recent years, however, due to the mandates of State laws and City ordinances, a progressively higher percentage of the solid waste is either source separated at the Airport or is sorted at the offsite facilities of the waste haulers. This separation enables increased rates of recycling. The following describes recent efforts to improve waste separation: Enhanced On-Site Source Separation In FY 2011 approximately 15.2 % of the solid waste generated at the Airport was separated at the source for recycling and was transported directly to the recycling facilities. During this period SFO deployed additional solid waste containers, in sets of three, throughout the Airport for depositing: Paper, Bottles & Cans, and General Trash This procedure is employed in all of the terminals and facilitates for source separation of the waste by general public and SFO employees. Additional dedicated bins have also been deployed for temporary storage of the different waste types including cardboard, weeds and mixed metals. Educational signage in an Airport restroom explains the waste reduction benefits associated with hand dryer use. Improved Off-Site Separation In FY 2011, SFO s waste hauler achieved a recycling rate of 59.6% for mixed solid waste transported off the Airport. This value represents the average rate of recycling for the combined operation of South San Francisco Scavenger Company (SSFSC), including composting operations. The Airport stores separated solid waste on-site before being transported to an offsite processing facility. ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program 7

9 Workers at the South San Francisco Scavenger Company recycling facility sort incoming mixed solid waste. The facility sorted and recycled over 59% of mixed solid waste transported off the Airport. Photo courtesy of South San Francisco Scavenger Company Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling The City s Policy calls for recycling a minimum of 65% of non-hazardous construction and demolition waste generated at City construction projects. SFO maintains a goal to recycle at least 75% of the waste generated at Airport s construction and demolition projects. Additionally, SFO requires all major renovations and construction projects to be LEED Gold Certified by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). USGBC s LEED Certification process encourages contractors to recycle and/or salvage at least 50% of non-hazardous construction and demolition debris and awards additional points for achieving a recycling rate of 75% or more. SFO consistently surpasses this goal, achieving construction and demolition waste recycling rates above 90%. Demolition work at Terminal 2. Demolished waste is separated on-site and subsequently recycled. SFO contractors water down piles of debris to minimize dust pollution. In order to minimize waste and save materials from Terminal 2, demolition was performed selectively, leaving the steel and concrete shell. ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program 8

10 The adjacent pie charts show the estimated composition of the airport construction and demolition materials that are recycled in FY 2009 and FY The composition of this waste depends largely on the type of demolition work that the Airport has undertaken. Estimated Composition of Airport Construction and Demolition Recycled Materials Mixed Paper 2% Wood <1% 0% Concrete 7% FY 2009 Metals 52% Mixed Construction & Demolition Waste 39% Total: 4,553 tons FY 2010 Concrete 68% Total: 10,246 tons Mixed Construction & Demolition Waste 25% Metals 4% Wood 2% Mixed Paper <1% 0% Other (Aluminum, Plastics, Cardboard) <1% 0% Drywall 1% ACI-NA 2011 Environmental Achievement Award: SFO Solid Waste Management Program 9

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