Three recycling stations have been installed at Glasgow Airport in Scotland in a bid to offer a sustainable solution for the disposal of single-use coffee cups in the terminal.
The first stations have been installed in the James Martin Kitchen, Panopolis and Starbucks catering outlets in the main departures area, with a further four set to be installed. They feature three collection tubes to enable passengers and staff to recycle the single-use coffee cups and lids that were previously disposed of in general waste bins.
Kirsty Webster, Glasgow Airport’s sustainability assurance manager, said, “We are committed to reducing our environmental impact. As disposable cups are composed of paper with a thin plastic liner to keep them from leaking, recycling them requires a specialized process.
“The remaining liquid has also been a barrier to recycling. If there’s nowhere to hand to empty the contents of the cup, they are often tossed in the general waste bins. These stations provide both staff and customers with the means to dispose of leftover drinks and disposable cups in a sustainable manner.”
The new recycling stations were introduced as part of Cup Movement in Glasgow, a city-wide initiative from environmental charity Keep Scotland Beautiful. It is aimed at reducing the waste associated with single-use cups through cross-sector reuse and recycling solutions. Glasgow Airport joined Cup Movement in summer 2019, gaining access to Scotland’s first cup collection and recycling service, which was delivered in collaboration with Simply Cups.
Paul Wallace, campaigns and social innovation manager at Keep Scotland Beautiful, said, “Transport hubs like Glasgow Airport are a key part of our take-away coffee culture, with thousands of travelers reaching for a drink in a disposable cup as they wait for their flight to board.
“Having an initiative like this in a key hub in and out of Glasgow helps send a strong message to locals and visitors alike about the importance of waste reduction. Every step counts as we transition towards lower-impact ways of living.”
The introduction of the recycling stations is one of a series of sustainability-focused and waste management projects underway locally at Glasgow Airport.