Minnesota-based Sun Country Airlines has launched a comprehensive in-flight organics recycling program, making it perhaps the first airline in the nation to start composting onboard food waste in addition to recycling cans and bottles. And the company is doing it with the help of nearly $35,000 in environmental funding from Hennepin and Dakota counties. \u201cIt\u2019s unique and it\u2019s a big endeavor for them,\u201d said Andre Xiong, a recycling specialist at Hennepin County.<\/p>\n
Until now, Sun Country has recycled only paper and cardboard. Now flight attendants will recycle passengers\u2019 cans, bottles and juice cartons, while leftover food, napkins and discarded coffee cups and grounds will end up at metro area composting sites to be sold as dirt for gardens or roads.
\nThe full program started at Sun Country\u2019s buildings and on domestic flights this month.<\/p>\n
A\u00a0report by a recycling advocacy group said that as of 2010, 250 million tons of waste were generated on U.S. flights and yet no major airline had a comprehensive program to reduce food waste.<\/p>\n
Since then, more airlines have pushed to go green. Alaska Airlines\u00a0announced last spring\u00a0it would start composting coffee grounds. JetBlue started composting at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, though it doesn\u2019t collect compost onboard. Other airlines such as Delta recycle plastic, aluminum and paper on some flights.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs the hometown airline, we feel responsible to be good corporate partners,\u201d said Eric Curry, executive vice president of customer experience and sales. \u201cAs we continue to grow and develop at Sun Country, we\u2019re looking at all phases of our operations that we can do better.\u201d<\/p>\n
Curry said that company officials anticipate the new program will significantly cut into trash amounts. The airline says the program is part of a broader initiative dubbed \u201cSoaring to Sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n