Sorting It Out: Inside PIT’s First Waste Audit

Pittsburgh International Airport just did some serious dumpster diving with its first waste audit.

The process analyzes the waste generated at PIT. That information is used in the plan for waste reduction and landfill diversion to enhance the airport’s resiliency and sustainability efforts.

In 2024, PIT’s Environmental Department drafted a comprehensive waste management plan that serves as a baseline document for waste and recycling policies and procedures at the airport.

Now, PIT wants a clearer understanding of the composition of its waste stream.

PIT partnered with consultant firms Mead & Hunt and Airport Zero Waste to conduct the waste audit and analysis. Waste collection took place in both the landside and airside terminals at multiple points across the airport’s campus. Samples were gathered from locations such as security screening checkpoints, front-of-house and back-of-house concessions areas.

“It helped us identify partners,” said Cecily Zhu, PIT’s sustainability manager. “Often, it started with good conversation and got people excited about what we were doing.”

Trash collection ultimately lasted three days, yielding over 1,200 pounds of waste.

In the next phase of the audit, the team sorted, measured and logged the 180 sample bags collected. They divided the waste into 17 categories – such as plastics, paper, glass and food waste – before weighing them.

The Environmental team’s hands-on approach is just one of the strides that PIT is taking to meet its larger goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In June, PIT committed to developing on-site synthetic aviation fuel (SAF), months after it announced the substantial expansion of its solar field.

The results of the waste audit were nothing short of surprising.

At all collection points, liquid waste was frequently found in both trash and recycling. Samples collected from TSA areas revealed that passengers often pour liquids directly into trash bins instead of using emptying stations. Some even discarded full, unopened bottles. The team found that food waste made up a third of what was discarded from dining concessionaires.

By weight, the samples were composed of 30 percent trash, 27 percent recyclables, 20 percent liquids and ice, 18 percent compostables and 5 percent unopened food.

So, what are the next steps?

With PIT’s first-ever waste audit analysis now complete, the team can identify and develop effective waste management strategies based on the data.

In the coming months, PIT plans to strengthen its waste management efforts through a range of initiatives. These include improved signage around waste bins, targeted staff training, and expanded education for both employees and passengers.

“The audit supported what we wanted to do already, but it helps us build a narrative,” said Zhu. “It gives us a clear direction to take.”

These initiatives will be especially important as PIT prepares to open its new terminal this fall, providing an opportunity to establish more efficient waste management practices from the ground up.