STANSTED airport has published a five year waste management strategy that outlines their ambitious targets to meet by 2015.

With a focus to ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ the airport is hoping to send zero per cent of its waste direct to landfills by the end of the scheme.

Commenting on the waste strategy, head of health, safety and environment Dr Andy Jefferson said: “This strategy outlines the collaborative approach we’ll take to identify even the smallest of initiatives that will collectively improve performance.

“So far we’ve collected over 4900 tonnes of waste this year and recycled and composted an impressive 52 per cent. But with over 10,000 people working here we can also play our part to support domestic recycling.

“In 2009 for example, we hosted recycling banks in our staff car park for Uttlesford District Council, with over two tonnes of textiles and five tonnes of glass collected.

“We’re fully committed to the strategy now set and look forward to reporting back on our successes as we work towards the challenging 2015 targets set.”

Stansted has employed numerous strategies in recent history to tackle waste management, such as introducing recycling bins in to the terminal buildings and reusing construction waste when laying the foundations of the new hangar in 2009.

Actions set within the Waste Management Strategy 2010-2015 include: review waste generated from packaging and identify opportunities to change to recyclable products; identify opportunities to collaborate with national and local waste recycling programmes and commercial ventures and continue roll out of our food composting initiative – which between May and October 2010 has diverted 128 tonnes of food waste from landfill.

To view the Stansted Airport Waste Management Strategy visit stanstedairport.com/corporateresponsibility