Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) has gone one step ahead in its sustainability initiative. The airport has partnered with local environmental firm Ecotone Renewables to add a new system that will transform uneaten food into fertilizer thus reducing waste.
This move is the latest addition to airport’s ‘xBridge’ innovation campaign aimed towards making the airport environment friendly. The airport recently invested about $1.4 bn for terminal renovation.
One unit of Ecotone’s system has been placed outside the airport’s landside terminal for intake of waste food. The composting system called ZEUS (Zero Emissions Upcycling System) is placed inside an 8 by 20-foot standard shipping container. Interestingly ZEUS transforms food waste into fertilizer up to eight times faster than normal methods.
ZEUS intakes food waste, mixes it with rainwater that is collected and fed into it, and thereby is able to transform garbage into high-grade fertilizer that is immediately ready for sale. The biogas produced by the composting process is used to power the machine.
Dylan Lew, CEO, ZEUS said: “I think we’ve created an amazing solution for our customers because we not only reduce waste odors and greenhouse gas emissions, but when it comes down to the bottom line, we reduce costs. Certainly, ZEUS will be able to help the airport achieve its long-term sustainability initiatives through the adoption of this new technology.”
“ZEUS aligns well with the [xBridge] program which has a proven record of working with both established and startup technology companies to develop tech solutions for aviation and other industries at PIT,” the airport said in a statement.
