Horizon Air Recycles 69% of Onboard Waste
The Washington State Recycling Association (WSRA) presented its 2010 Recycler of the Year award to Horizon Air.
Horizon began its inflight recycling program in the late 1980s and today operates the most comprehensive onboard recycling program of any U.S. airline. Flight attendants collect newspapers, magazines, aluminum cans, plastic cups, and plastic and glass bottles from passengers for recycling. Even wine corks, cardboard, shrink wrap, coffee grounds and aluminum and plastic pop rings are recycled, at Horizon’s main food and beverage locations in Seattle, Portland and Boise.
The result: Horizon currently recycles 69 percent of all onboard waste.
“The key to our success is very much the engagement of our flight attendants and food and beverage employees, who together make this recycling program so successful,” said Jacqueline Drumheller, environmental projects manager. “We’re also very fortunate to partner with the Seattle and Portland airports, themselves recognized as leaders in recycling and waste minimization, at our two largest hubs.”
Horizon and sister company Alaska Airlines also strive to reduce their environmental footprint through investments in technology, green equipment, employee engagement and fuel conservation.
The airline serves 48 cities throughout Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Baja California Sur (Mexico), and British Columbia and Alberta (Canada). Together, Horizon Air and Alaska Airlines serve more than 90 cities and are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group, Inc.