Aircraft recycling is a growing concern
Monday, December 23, 2013 - 13:22:38
This month, the first ever conference dedicated solely to the issue of aircraft recycling was held in Germany, according to Waste Management World.
Attendees were there to discuss this pressing issue and address the fact that as more and more planes are set to be retired over the coming years, governments need to do more research into the best way to dispose of them in a sustainable manner.
Each year, around 1,000 airliners come to the end of their useable life and the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association (AFRA) estimates that in the next two decades, planes totalling a value of around $1.3 trillion (?793 billion) will be taken out of action, which will result in the need for a significant amount of work to be carried out in the aftermath.
The construction of aircraft is already relatively efficient, with up to 85 per cent of components and materials coming from recycled sources, according to AFRA. But it intends to boost this further and wants to hit 90 per cent within the next two years.
This is obviously a challenge that needs to be supported through regulation and legislation, and experts believe that the recycling industry will develop rapidly to accommodate the growing demand.
There is a lot of debate about air travel as an environmental issue in and of itself, since flights across the world generate massive amounts of carbon every day and continue to contribute to the greenhouse effect.
Some eco-activists would like to see air travel minimised, but the reality is that it is unlikely to be limited in its growth, so more measures need to be put in place to make sure that it is fundamentally sustainable.
Aircraft recycling is a good place to start, so hopefully, there will be more research carried out and funding injected over the coming years.
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