Onboard Recycling Takes Flight By Jeff Joslin The next time you step onto a Delta aircraft, you can make recycling a part of your own travel experience. “What?” you ask. In June, Delta expanded its in-flight recycling program on all of its domestic flights landing at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Recycling is one of the many ongoing environmental programs underway at Delta Air Lines. Recycling helps accomplish the company’s mission of bettering the standards of living and the environment where Delta employees and customers live and work. One benefit to the in-flight recycling program is the reduction of solid waste footprint and landfill capacity. Recycling provides a cost savings and helps position the airline as an industry leader in environmental responsibility.

In the past, Delta flight attendants voluntarily recycled aluminum cans. The newly expanded recycling program provides for the collection of aluminum cans, plastic cups, water bottles, newspapers, magazines, and plastic snack pack trays. A program of this size requires extensive coordination - from training cabin service and catering crews to providing information and training for all flight attendants. On September 14th 2007, the program expanded to cover domestic flights into Salt Lake City, Utah, Portland, Oregon, Cincinnati, Ohio and Seattle, Washington. Implementation at additional hub stations is anticipated by years end. In 2008, the program will expand to additional destinations within the United States.

During the first three months of Delta’s recycling program, more than 61 tons of recycled materials were collected on flights inbound to Atlanta. An estimated 46 tons of aluminum, nine tons of plastic and five and one-half tons of newsprint have been diverted from local landfills.

In July, an inset to “Green Scene,” a feature in Delta’s in-flight magazine, enlisted the help of Delta passengers in the recycling effort. Passengers play a critical roll in ensuring cups, bottles and cans collected for recycling remain trash free. Excess trash and liquid inside containers is considered contamination which can render items non-recyclable. Coupled with in-flight video segments, Delta is educating and partnering with its customers to separate recycling materials on board. A lead flight attendant on a recent Delta flight to San Diego reported that passenger response has been great. In many cases where passengers inquired why flight attendants were separating trash, many pitched in to help when they found out about Delta’s recycling program. Passengers have been overwhelmingly supportive of Delta’s recycling program and this partnership with travelers will help flight attendants complete onboard recycling more efficiently than ever.

Recycled materials provide a cost savings while also generating some revenue. Net proceeds from the recycling program will be donated to non-profit organizations sponsored by Delta’s Force for Global Good.

Delta’s Force for Global Good is a program that unites Delta employees and customers in philanthropic and social responsibility efforts throughout the world. This unique program brings together Delta’s global network of employees and customers with assets from The Delta Foundation, Delta’s charitable giving organization, to create awareness and increase support for those organizations and people who need it the most. The Conservation Fund and Habitat for Humanity International are two of the airline’s partners.

Delta remains committed to being an industry leader when it comes to environmental responsibility. The recycling efforts at Delta are good for the environment and a win for Delta Air Lines, its customers and the communities the airline serves.