Airlines That Recycle

Which airlines are taking steps to reduce the vast amount of waste generated each year by the industry?

Green America’s consumer watchdog site, ResponsibleShopper.org, ranks airlines by their recycling efforts. The group says that airlines could recycle nearly 500 million more tons of waste each year, including 250 million tons of in-flight waste. (Nearly 75 percent of in-flight waste is recyclable, but only about 20 percent is recycled, the site reports.)

Each year, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, airlines throw away 9,000 tons of plastic, enough aluminum cans to build 58 B747s and enough newspapers and magazines to cover a football field 230 meters deep.

Airlines’ overall ranking and recycling grade

1. Southwest B+

2. Virgin America 2 B+

3. Delta B-

4. British Airways D

5. US Airways F

6. American Airlines F

7. Continental F

8. United Airlines F