OREANDA-NEWS. Gatwick currently treats 2,200 tonnes of Category 1 waste each year, around 20% of the total generated at the airport (10,500 tonnes). The new energy plant will process around 10 tonnes per day, whereas all Category 1 waste was previously processed offsite.

With the objective of boosting the airport's recycling rate from 49% today to around 85% by 2020 - higher than any UK airport - the plant includes a waste sorting centre to maximise recycling onsite. Concentrating all activities in one location enables the team to transport waste four times more efficiently than before, reducing local traffic and carbon emissions.

The plant has also been designed with the future in mind and has the capacity to produce additional energy that could one day be used to power other areas of the airport.

"On our journey to become one of the greenest airports in the world, our new world-beating waste plant turns a difficult waste problem into a sustainable energy source. We're confident it sets the benchmark for others to follow in waste management," said Stewart Wingate, Gatwick CEO."

"Our ambitious plans to develop in the most environmentally responsible way possible are driven by a set of rigorous targets. I'm delighted to say our strategy is working and, despite passenger numbers doubling, our environmental footprint is better today than it was in the early 1990s."
Martin Willmor, Senior Vice President, Specialist Services, UK, DHL Supply Chain, added: "After a decade of working closely with Gatwick, we're excited to still be finding innovative ways to improve operations across the airport. Disposing of Category 1 waste can be very costly and time-consuming, but our new waste management and recycling system is a huge step forward.

"Gatwick is leading the way in converting waste onsite into an energy source and we're already investigating a number of further initiatives to support sustainable energy production and the future expansion of the airport."