Thiruvananthapuram Airport Earns India's First Zero Waste to Landfill Accolade

Tags: State News

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, situated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, has attained the distinction of being the inaugural airport in India to earn the Zero Waste to Landfill (ZWL) recognition bestowed by the CII-ITC CESD (Centre for Excellence for Sustainable Development).

An Overview of the News

• This recognition underscores the airport's dedication to sustainable waste management practices.

• The ZWL assessment revealed that the airport has effectively implemented leading waste management practices, achieving a remarkable 99.50% waste diversion from landfills.

• Notably, the airport has diverted 100% of its plastic waste and 100% of its Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), encompassing both wet and dry waste, away from landfills.

Implementation Strategies:

• By embracing the 5R principles -Reduce, Reuse, Reprocess, Recycle, and Recover - of Sustainable Waste Management, the airport has achieved a 99.5% waste diversion rate.

• This success is attributed to the integration of a robust value chain system, emphasizing the reduction of waste production while maximizing recycling and recovery efforts.

Sophisticated Waste Management System:

• Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has established a sophisticated waste management system aligned with ISO 14001:2015 standards.

• This system encompasses comprehensive waste segregation, recycling, monitoring, and reduction processes, all operating under a cradle-to-cradle principle to ensure sustainable waste management practices.

Sustainable Waste Management Goals:

• The ZWL initiative aims to divert a minimumof99% of generated waste from landfills, prioritizing the reduction of overall waste production.

• Thiruvananthapuram International Airport's achievement serves as a model for other airports and industries, highlighting the feasibility and benefits of adopting sustainable waste management strategies.