Smart City

Why airports should adopt Envac’s automatic waste collection systems

A clean, smart, and sustainable future for aviation infrastructure

As global air travel rebounds and continues to grow, airports are facing unprecedented pressure to manage ever-increasing volumes of waste, from general waste to recyclables and food waste, while maintaining world-class standards of hygiene, safety, and sustainability.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), passenger numbers are expected to exceed 9 billion by 2035. With this growth comes a surge in airport waste, currently estimated at over 5.7 million tonnes annually worldwide. Traditional manual waste collection systems can no longer meet the efficiency or environmental standards of modern aviation hubs.

Envac, a global leader in automatic pneumatic waste collection with installations across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, is helping airports transition toward cleaner, safer, and smarter operations.

Tackling Global Waste Challenges

Airports worldwide face growing challenges in waste management. Envac’s automatic waste collection systems directly address these challenges, removing the need for waste trucks on the apron, cutting emissions, increasing safety and enabling real-time monitoring and sustainability reporting.

Waste volume growth

Airport waste volumes have increased sharply post-pandemic, with some hubs reporting rises of up to around 30 per cent compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Food waste dominance

Organic and food-related waste can account for approximately 30–40 per cent of airport solid waste streams and is often under-recycled.

Regulatory pressure

The European Union’s Fit for 55 and the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards emphasise greater waste segregation, traceability, and circular economy principles.

Operational congestion

Traditional waste-handling vehicles on aprons and terminals add unnecessary emissions, noise, and safety risks.

A bold benchmark

Marco Polo Airport, Venice

In April 2025, Marco Polo Airport became Europe’s latest airport to deploy Envac’s state-of-the-art pneumatic waste collection system. The system currently manages 33 per cent of the airport’s total waste and will expand across the terminal complex via a 6.5-kilometre underground pipe network by 2037.

Key Features

Source separation for general waste, recyclables, and organics.

Over 500 metres of sealed underground pipes transporting waste directly to a central station

Estimated annual CO₂ reduction: 6 tonnes due to the elimination of the use of multiple vehicles for the transfer of waste

Automated, 24/7 operation, reducing manual handling and interim storage

This innovation improves efficiency, safety, reduces emissions, and delivers a cleaner, quieter airport environment — positioning Venice as a benchmark for sustainable aviation infrastructure.

Smart waste management across airport zones

Envac’s modular, continuously operating system serves all major airport zones, including:

  • Passenger terminals
  • Apron and gate areas
  • In-flight catering kitchens and food courts

Staff can dispose of waste directly at the source. From there, sealed pipes transport materials to a central collection point, minimising vehicle traffic, manual transport, and operational noise.

Emirates Flight Kitchen in Dubai with a pneumatic waste handling system

Revolutionising in-flight catering waste management

Airport catering facilities handle vast quantities of food and packaging waste under strict hygiene regulations. Envac’s automated kitchen waste system is purpose-built for these demanding environments, now handling more than *one million meals every day across major international airports.

Global Examples:

  • Hamad International Airport (Qatar): 11 systems managing up to 270 tonnes of waste per day
  • Dubai International Airport (UAE): 61 sealed inlets processing waste from up to 300,000 catering trays daily at Emirates Flight Catering
  • Tokyo Haneda & Narita (Japan): Long-term partnerships with ANA and JAL ensure consistent, high-efficiency waste handling

*Handling one million meals equates to approximately 600 tonnes of cabin and catering waste (ranging from 400 to 800 tonnes, depending on the route mix and service type). This estimate is based on International Air Transport Association (IATA) data, which show that the average cabin waste generation per passenger is approximately 0.94 kilograms, of which about 65% is food and beverage waste. These findings underscore the need for sealed, twenty-four-hour, seven-day-a-week automated systems to maintain kitchen hygiene and keep apron areas free from waste-handling vehicles.

Envac’s systems provide quantifiable benefits

  • Immediate Removal and Sealed Transport Prevents contamination and supports HACCP-compliant, odour-free operation.
  • Continuous Operation Reliable 24/7 operation that supports continuous flight and catering schedules.
  • Sustainability and Cost Efficiency Lowers emissions by reducing vehicle use and landfill waste, while improving labour efficiency by minimising manual handling and reallocating staff.

  • Increased Hygiene Minimises cross-contamination and odour, contributing to a cleaner environment.
  • Regulatory Compliance Aligns with environmental and health regulations.
  • Remote Monitoring IoT-based monitoring and predictive maintenance ensure systems operate continuously, reliably, and cost-effectively.
  • Safety Increased safety can be achieved through reduced vehicle traffic and minimal handling on the runway. Furthermore, restricting waste inlets and access can contribute to higher safety measures.
One woman traveller with backpack go on moving walkway travolator in new Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Back view

Improving the passenger experience

Clean, clutter-free terminals strengthen brand image and boost traveller satisfaction. Envac helps airports maintain spotless environments by preventing bin overflow and waste-related odours.

The key outcomes:

  • Quieter, safer waste operations
  • Improved cleanliness ratings and passenger feedback
  • A visible commitment to sustainability
  • A trusted partner for global airports

Envac’s technology supports some of the world’s most advanced aviation hubs and catering operators, including

As airports evolve into smart, sustainability-driven hubs, Envac provides the infrastructure to match efficient, sanitary, scalable, secure and future-ready.

Hamad International Airport (Qatar)

At Doha’s state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport, five pneumatic waste collection systems handle kitchen waste from Qatar Airlines Flight Catering, while six collect mixed waste from the terminal. Envac designed, built, operates, and maintains all eleven systems.

Emirates Flight Catering (Dubai)

Hermetically sealed steel waste inlets throughout the kitchen’s preparation area, dishwashing area and cleaning areas are connected to Envac’s state-of-the-art pneumatic waste removal system eliminating the need for unhygienic manual waste handling.

Picture 1: From left to right, Lee Jooyoul, Seo Jinseok, and Yun Gwonseong

Airports across Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Europe

Envac is strengthening its position in Japan’s airline catering industry by delivering efficient and sustainable waste management solutions. Recently, the company undertook key maintenance and upgrade projects for All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL) at Haneda and Narita airports, reinforcing its long-term collaboration with Japanese airlines and catering firms.

Ready to modernise your airport’s waste management?

Join the growing number of airports investing in a cleaner, smarter future.

Envac’s automatic waste collection systems are more than an upgrade; they represent a complete transformation in how airports think about waste, sustainability, and passenger experience.

Sources

  • Airports Council International (ACI) / ScienceDirect (2021): Understanding Waste Management at Airports – Current Practices and Challenges — notes the increasing volume of waste alongside passenger growth.
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, 2013): Recycling, Reuse, and Waste Reduction at Airports — reports that food and organic waste represent 30–40 per cent of airport waste.
  • International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO, 2022): Waste Management at Airports: Eco-Airport Toolkit — outlines expectations for waste segregation and traceability.
  • European Union (2021): Fit for 55 Legislative Package — establishes sustainability and circular-economy measures impacting airport operations.
  • Airport World (2023): “Waste Management: Talking Rubbish!” — highlights emissions and congestion issues caused by conventional airside waste transport.
  • International Air Transport Association (IATA), Cabin Waste Composition Audit, 2024 — reporting an average of 0.94 kilograms of waste per passenger.
  • Business Traveller, “IATA: Untouched Meals Account for 18 Per Cent of In-Flight Waste,” 2024 — noting that about sixty-five per cent of cabin waste is food and beverage related, and eighteen per cent consists of untouched meals.

Related articles