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Going Green: Thank You For Helping Southwest Airlines Be Green

lmoffat
Adventurer A

DING!  The fasten seatbelt sign just came on and you are starting to see something more than an endless field of clouds.  It’s time for the Flight Attendants to come through the cabin one last time to pick up any remaining items. 

If you’re like me and Green is on your mind, why are the Flight Attendants accepting newspapers and drink cans in a black trash bag??  Well, never fear, because our co-mingled recycling allows all recyclables to be disposed together.  While sorting isn’t required, Flight Attendants take the time to empty any liquids from the cans so it’s ready for the next step in the process.  Our mighty Provisioning Agents pick up these black trash bags full of wonderful things to recycle to containers located on the airport properties, which diverts this waste from our landfills.

The next time you are flying Southwest and you hear, “Ladies and Gentleman, in a few moments we will come by to collect any items you would like to throw away,” don’t fret!  Wait for it…”Southwest recycles, so if you have any newspapers, plastic bottles, or magazines, please keep those separate, and we’ll be happy to recycle them for you.  Thank you for helping Southwest be Green.” 

And, if you’ve ever wondered about some of the things you hear about recycling, here are some myths that we’re happy to bust for you.

Myth:  If I see the triangular recycling symbol on a can, container, etc., I can recycle it.
Busted:  Don’t be fooled by any old triangular symbol since plastic bottles and containers are usually stamped with a Plastic Identification Code, which is a triangle with a number in the middle.  Although manufacturers use this symbol to identify the type of plastic, don’t go tossing it in any recycling container.  

Myth:  It’s difficult and inconvenient to recycle.
Busted:  If you think you don’t have the time or space to recycle, it really doesn’t take a lot of either, and most likely your city has made it even easier with a city-wide recycling program.  More and more cities offer curbside pickup for residents, so check out your city web site to see what services they offer if you aren’t already taking advantage of this service.  If your city doesn’t offer recycling to you and your neighbors, maybe it’s time for you to join the city council and let your voice be heard!

Myth:  Most of the plastic I put in my recycling bin ends up in a landfill.
Half-Busted:  Although this is true in some cases, this problem is in the process of being solved.  The truth is that some recycling programs don’t accept certain types of plastics.  However, many cities are hopping on the bandwagon to expand the range of plastics they accept to include rigid plastics like toys and clamshell packages.  Some of these plastics are even being recycled into things like artificial lumber for landscaping.

Myth:  If I don’t recycle, it’s not a big deal.  One person doesn’t really make a difference.
Busted:  This is astonishing— according to the Environmental Protection Agency, more than 60 percent of what goes into landfills is paper, plastic, metal, and glass.  Yikes!  Don’t contribute to this—it is more important than ever to recycle and divert waste from our landfills.  Every piece of paper, plastic, metal, and glass counts!

Let us know how you live and work Green by posting your comments below.  DING!  You are now free to be Green.


 

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