According to a new report, airlines fail to recycle over 500 million tons of waste each year. Half of that waste is generated in-flight.

And while Delta and Virgin did better than most, not even a single airline recycles all the major recyclables. With 75-percent of all in-flight waste being recyclable, only 20-percent of it is actually is. That's why not a single airline received a grade higher than a B-.

The report looked at five different areas: variety of waste, future recycling programs, size of current in-flight program, encouragement of onboard recycling, and in-flight sustainability.  Without a comprehensive program in place, recyclables like aluminum, glass, plastic, and paper continue to fill our landfills. But recyclable waste is not the only issue. Every airline provides grossly over-packaged snacks and meals and they aren't working with manufactuers to minimize it. And composting is another area where airlines could greatly improve their footprint.

Airlines throw away enough aluminum cans to build 58 Boeing 747 jets. Not surprising, more than 881 million tons of waste was generated by airline passenger trips in the U.S. in 2008. And just to put air travel as a whole in perspective, check out this infographic from GOOD.



"While airlines may face some challenges in creating effective recycling programs, evidence shows that working systems can be implemented," Green America Corporate Responsibility Director Todd Larsen said in a statement. "Our report demonstrates that several airlines are significantly ahead of their competitors in taking these steps, and it is clear that comprehensive recycling programs can be implemented effectively and economically."

Here are the rankings from best to worst: Delta Airlines, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic, Southwest Airlines, Continental Airlines, Jet Blue, American Airlines, British Airways, Air Tran, United Airlines, and US Airways. But it's not all doom-and-gloom. British Airlines has committed to zero waste by 2010 and Southwest has an on-ground recycling program covers batteries, electronics and oil.

You can view the full report at here.

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Source: CommonDreams