Airplane Recycling, Research Paper Example

Introduction

It is important to identify the tools and resources that are required to ensure that the airline industry continues to grow and evolve with demand in many ways. One of the most critical factors to consider is how environmental evolution impacts the airline industry and the steps that are required to ensure that the industry is able to meet the demands of environmental change and efficiency. One of the most critical areas of environmental preservation is recycling, as this demonstrates a strong need to minimize waste and to be proactive in meeting the needs of the environment through change and progress on many levels. It is important to identify the tools and resources that are required to support the environment through recycling and how this practice supports the growth of this practice within the industry as a whole. Several areas must be considered as potential opportunities for recycling, including but not limited to 1) reducing or eliminating the use of paper; 2) recycling airplane parts for future use; and 3) recycling trash, such as cans, bottles, and paper products in order to minimize waste and conserve existing products for reuse at a later date.

Paper Recycling

Recycling within the airline industry is not a new concept; however, it requires a practical approach in order to determine how to best address the current areas where waste is excessive and recycling is a likely solution to support environmental change. One area of consideration is to reduce weight and subsequent fuel requirements by eliminating some of the paper that is currently on board (Kolesnikov-Jessop, 2011). From this perspective, it is possible for an airline to not only alleviate excess weight and fuel requirements, but also to save trees in the process and contribute to preservation of the environment in many ways (Kolesnikov-Jessup, 2011). This is an important reminder of the challenges associated with the excessive use of paper on flights through the production of in-flight magazines and other sources of paper, such as manifests and passenger lists that are frequently seen on flights and at airport gates. In these settings, the overuse of paper in different ways places a burden on the environment and contributes to excess and unnecessary waste throughout the industry that is difficult to manage. As a result, paper recycling is a critical issue that requires immediate attention and focus in order to determine possible ideas to solve this problem.

A probable solution is to provide airline employees with tablet computers such as iPads with manifests and passenger lists to remove paper from the equation, and to enable passengers to read the in-flight magazine through their television screens attached to the seats in front of them. This is a possible opportunity to expand the reach of the recycling movement to paper and to minimize waste in the wake of advancing a strategy to reduce fuel costs. In addition, the minimization of paper in other ways must also be considered, or to also recycle the paper that is used within a given flight, such as that used in a paper cup. This type of resource may be recycled in the future and provide a basis for developing new and creative approaches to paper utilization in different ways in the future. The airline industry must explore its options and to be proactive in recycling paper throughout airports and directly on aircraft in order to improve recycling rates in this area.

Trash Recycling

The airline industry continues to pose a threat to the environment through aircraft exhaust that is released by aircraft into the atmosphere, and there is little if any relief from this process on a larger scale (Negroni, 2010). Therefore, it is important to identify other areas where there might be opportunities to improve the environment. For example, there is significant waste involving paper and other forms of trash on every single flight; therefore, it is important to identify areas where this practice might be alleviated through improvements to existing recycling policies and standards so that different forms of trash that is used on aircraft is recycled at higher levels (Negroni, 2010). One of the challenges of this practice is that it is localized on many levels, thereby creating a difficult challenge for many airlines and airports to manage these recycling efforts effectively: “Recycling procedures vary by airline and airport. Environmental programs involve many entities: airports, municipalities, private waste companies and federal security agencies. As a result, each of the nation’s 552 commercial airports has its own way of handling waste” (Negroni, 2010). This process, therefore, requires a high level of support and understanding from the surrounding community and the groups that collectively work together within these environments, such as the Transportation and Security Administration (TSA), airport vendors, and airline personnel, among others (Negroni, 2010).

One probable solution is to develop a cohesive strategy among these groups to offer recycling bins throughout airports at even higher levels than are currently available and to separate trash on aircraft so that when it is taken off of a plane upon landing, it may be sorted and recycled accordingly to ensure. This practice will aid organizations such as Boeing and others in meeting the expectations of the general public in order to effectively recycle products for reuse in the future in different ways. The manner in which trash is collected on aircraft and in airports must also be evaluated in order to determine if there are feasible alternatives that may promote less excess waste throughout the industry, from pilots to passengers and all steps in between that will have a lasting impact on improving recycling rates and in reducing waste.

Recycling of Aircraft Parts

Another area of potential innovation and growth in recycling for the airline industry is to recycle airplane parts to be used for a different purpose in the future (Kim, 2013). Many aircraft parts are recycled for use on future aircraft that are manufactured for use and put into the general rotation; however, other uses are also emerging that provide a different approach to their use, such as furniture (Kim, 2013). To be specific manufacturer has found creative solution to utilize aircraft parts in ways that might not have ever been considered in the past, thereby creating a niche market for products that is likely to remain attractive and unique for many years to come with the intended target audience (Kim, 2013). This practice requires a strategic approach that will examine aircraft parts as more than simply a piece to an airplane, and to take these items and transform them into an entirely different product with its own purpose and functionality (Kim, 2013). Therefore, it is important to evaluate the different conditions under which there are significant opportunities to utilize aircraft parts in a different way as part of a larger recycling effort (Kim, 2013).

Probable solutions for the use of aircraft parts include tile for floor and walls, using aluminum from aircraft construction, sold by Bio-Luminum and sold as a product that is recyclable in and of itself (Kim, 2013). Even homes and hotels have been constructed using airplane parts and entire aircraft as a means of recycling these items and making them fresh for use in different ways that would likely had never been considered in the past (Kim, 2013). In essence, there are many options to recycle aircraft parts or in their entirety that continue to evolve and allow the industry to recognize the benefits of recycling at an even higher level that impacts its continued evolution in a positive manner (Kim, 2013). These practices require an understanding of the materials that comprise aircraft parts so that they might be broken down in the future and recycled in order to alleviate some of the excess waste that is generated if these parts are discarded. By reusing these parts for other services, it is possible to be creative and to understand how to reuse these parts for other purposes and to generate an entirely different application for these parts when they are available for use.

Conclusion

The concept of recycling assumes many forms throughout society and introduces methods of preserving the environment at a much-needed level. This practice requires a high level understanding and acknowledgement of the different ideas and opportunities that are available to have a lasting impact on many industries. In particular, the airline industry will benefit from these practices because it supports change in its practices, if for no other reason but to reduce costs across many different areas. Therefore, the airline industry is consistently seeking new methods of recycling in order to accommodate environmental needs and to improve cost efficiency on many levels.

Paper recycling, aircraft part recycling, and trash recycling are three methods of expanding efforts within the airline industry to participate in recycling and to aid the environment in the process. These tools require a high level strategy and approach in order to accomplish the intended objectives and to be proactive in meeting the needs of the industry with respect to reducing costs and promoting efficiency on many levels. These efforts require key industry players such as Boeing to take the steps that are required to enhance their current environmental strategy and to be open to new opportunities to recycle different types of products, from paper to aircraft parts to different types of waste. These tools will provide an effective interface in the development of new strategies to improve outcomes for the industry and for the environment as a whole as these efforts continue to grow in scope and significance throughout the world.

References

Kim, V. (2013). Most creative ways to recycle a plane. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/04/travel/recycled-planes/

Kolesnikov-Jessop, S. (2011). Soon, the paperless airline cabin. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/21/business/global/21iht-RAV-INFLIGHT21.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1416485818-z31xpDTW1RPs8GyBRIfYBQ

Negroni, C. (2010). Leaving the trash behind. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/business/energy-environment/23recycle.html