OVER 60 tonnes of waste has been diverted from landfill in the past three months, thanks to Stansted Airport’s latest re-cycling initiative that’s keeping the airport on-track to achieve its target of zero waste to landfill by 2015.

“Developing new re-cycling methods is a key priority for my team and the introduction of our food composting initiative, where catering companies separate food waste into biodegradable bags, has seen great results in just the first three months,” said Dr Andy Jefferson, Head of Environment at Stansted Airport.

“Just over 10 years ago, 93.5 per cent of waste at Stansted went directly to landfill. Today, over 50 per cent of waste is re-cycled and our ambition is to be sending zero waste to landfill by 2015.

“The catering companies at Stansted grabbed the cost saving benefits associated with separating food waste for composting with both hands, engaged staff and through their focus and commitment over 60 tonnes of food waste was diverted from landfill between May and July this year.

“In 2009 we worked with Cranfield University to review our waste collection methods and implement more efficient, streamline collection services across the airport site.

“We’re already reaping the benefits of that work with over 1300 tonnes of waste re-cycled or composted in the first half of this year, that’s nearly 52 per cent of total airport waste collected.

“We will continue to work with businesses across the site that produce high levels of waste and support them to develop plans to not just reduce waste but to increase recycling.

“Our motto is ‘Reduce and Reuse’ and we will do all we can to achieve the challenging targets that we’ve set ourselves as a business to send zero waste to landfill by 2015.”