At AGS we are committed to reducing waste across our three airports.

During the last five years we have worked with our airport partners to introduce a series of initiatives across Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton to minimise waste.

As a result of this partnership approach, we have managed to reduce the amount of waste per passengers by 12% since 2016 and are continuing to improve on this.

Measures to cut waste and reduce single-use plastic across our airports include:

• We have installed water refill stations in our terminals and introduced pre-security sinks so passengers can empty water bottles, pass through security and then refill again.

• In 2019 Glasgow introduced coffee cup recycling stations as these are normally the most difficult to recycle – since then 12,000 cups have been recycled.

• More than 5000 reusable water bottles were provided for staff.

 

• Reverse Vending Machines are currently being trialled in Glasgow Airport ahead of the introduction of the Deposit Return Scheme next year.

• We now divert 100% of non-hazardous waste away from landfill.

 

• Our food waste is collected and turned into biogas and fertilisers that are used by Scottish farmers to help grow crops

 

• AGS became the first UK airport group to use Oxy-Biodegradable 100ml security bags - removing two million single-use alternatives from our airports

 

• All airport catering partners have removed plastic straws and now offer sustainable alternatives
• Any waste that can’t be recycled goes to Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) which is used in a variety of ways including the production of electricity
• Glasgow and Aberdeen airports teamed up with Cash for Kids to introduce clothing and textile recycling facilities
• Glasgow Airport also teamed up with The Clydeside Creative to ensure dozens of tables, chairs and stools that were no longer needed could be upcycled by a team of eco-artists rather than send to landfill
• Aberdeen International Airport has supported more than 1,200 of the most vulnerable people in society by making weekly food donations to local charity, Aberdeen Cyrenians
• Dozens of new Frankie & Benny crockery sets that were no longer needed were given to a homeless charity that used them as starter-packs to help people moving into accommodation for the first time

This summer AGS Airports Ltd launched its Sustainability Strategy outlining the Group’s plans to decarbonise its infrastructure and operations by the mid-2030s across our now carbon-neutral airports. To find out more about our journey to a more sustainable future click here.