Waste Management
AAHK is committed to managing waste effectively and promoting circularity across our operations.
Waste management is a key environmental concern in Hong Kong and the Government’s Waste Blueprint for 2035 promotes the adoption of circular economy principles including reducing the reliance on landfilling for waste disposal. Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) fully supports the key circular economy principles of efficient use of resource and waste minimization. An important focus of our operation is the separation of recyclables at the source from our waste streams, as well as minimising waste sent to landfill.
AAHK has set a target to increase AAHK’s recyclables recovery rate by 25%, compared to a 2018 baseline. This target recognises that half of the waste handled by AAHK’s waste collection system has limited recycling value. Therefore, our recyclables recovery efforts primarily concentrate on waste materials that hold market value in the recycling industry.
Our Story
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Food Waste Recycling and Surplus Food Rescue
Food waste accounts for about 20% of the waste handled by our waste management contractor. As food waste can readily be treated to generate bio-gas or to generate energy, separating food waste and surplus food at source is a key focus area for our waste management efforts and our collaborative initiatives include:
Segregation and collection of food waste
AAHK launched the food waste recycling programme in 2003. Through the programme, AAHK provides free recycling bags to terminal building tenants for the separate collection of food waste generated from their daily operations and funds the collection and transport of food waste from airport business partners.
The food waste collected from our buildings and business partners is sent to O · PARK1 for further processing to generate renewable energy. The residues from this process can be turned into compost. In 2023, over 320 tonnes of food waste was collected from the airport community for recycling.
HKIA Food Rescue Programme
AAHK started the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) Food Rescue Programme in partnership with a local NGO, Food Angel, in 2013, collecting surplus food from restaurants and caterers at HKIA. Over the years, this programme has expanded to cover several major airport business partners and tenants. The surplus food collected is transformed into hot meal boxes for distribution to the needy.
Food TranSmarting technology
AAHK started using the Food TranSmarter system in the HKIA Community Building in March 2023. The Food TranSmarter is a food waste pre-treatment solution that converts food waste into slurry, allowing for highly efficient storage and delivery to Government facilities for biogas production and electricity generation. The equipment processes both pre- and post-consumption food waste from the staff canteen and other food and beverage areas in our terminal and concourse areas, including the food courts.
Driving waste reduction inside terminal buildings
AAHK is offering a variety of new and revamped facilities at HKIA to encourage waste reduction and recycling in passenger areas. In an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastic water bottles and to improve passenger convenience, more than 100 drinking water zones and fountains have been installed throughout the passenger terminal buildings, along with over 20 hot drinking water facilities.
Moreover, in early 2022 over 500 additional hand dryers have been installed in HKIA toilets under an ongoing toilet revamp programme intended to help reduce the use of paper towels. The upgraded toilets feature modernised designs with "one-stop" hand-washing and hand dryers within each basin unit to reduce the use of paper towels.
Quick Facts
2003
AAHK launched the food waste recycling programme
2013
The HKIA Food Rescue Programme commenced in 2013 to collect surplus food from restaurants and caterers at HKIA
2018
Conducted the MSW charging pilot
2021
New waste target set aiming to increase AAHK’s recyclables recovery rate by 25%, compared to 2018 baseline
2022 - 2023
Prepared the airport community for the launch of the Government’s MSW Charging Scheme at HKIA
Assessed the feasibility and cost-benefit of additional waste management facilities to support enhanced recycling
Introduced Food TranSmarter technology to enhance food waste collection
2023 - 2024
Explored feasibility of waste-to-fuel facilities to support waste reduction/ a circular economy
Completed an updated waste composition survey to help direct waste management and recycling efforts
Partnered with Cathay Pacific Airways to drive recyclables separation on arriving aircraft
Awards & Recognition
