JFK Airport celebrated with the rest of the country with initiatives to recognize the dangers of climate change and to modify our behavior to mitigate the impact we have on our planet.
The Kaamco Cargo Committee held an important foreign object debris (FOD) inspection, the Port Authority is adding to its electric bus fleet while reaffirming its commitment to the Paris Climate Accord by hosting a carbon footprint reduction display at T4.
Terminal 4 has a unique story too its sustainability program. JFKIAT Terminal 4 is always pushing the envelope for sustainability and environmental progress. T4 is the first air terminal in the United States to be awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Gold-level certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. In addition, terminal restaurants are enrolled in a unique restaurant program called Green Restaurant Association ( GRA) whose purpose is to provide a transparent way to measure each restaurant’s environmental accomplishments while providing a pathway for the next steps each restaurant can take towards increased environmental sustainability. SSP food service, ABM and Royal Waste are partners in this environmentally friendly operation with JFKIAT.
One of the interesting aspects of this program is the recycling of refuse organic material such as left over food. GRA members at T4 handle recyclables and organic product differently. The remains of food are collected separately, picked up by Royal Waste, compacted then carted upstate to Mcenroe Farms in Millerton NY, where the organic material is organically composted.
All food scraps, from pizza crust to carrot shavings. Plant trimmings, yard waste, food soiled waste such as used tea bags or coffee filters, as well as certified compostable cutlery, plates, and napkins are considered organic waste-all which is organically converted to a high quality soil in the form of compost of which much is used in their greenhouses, cold frames and fields to promote healthy soil and vigorous plant growth seen in the produce they sell in their farm market.
Sustainability is her to stay at the airports and each year we look forward to more energy saving and earth saving solutions.
