MANAGEMENTecoPreserve led a comprehensive Waste and Recycling Management Assessment for Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU) as part of the airport’s first sustainability action plan. The assessment established SJU’s initial baseline for solid waste generation and diversion, providing a clear picture of current conditions and improvement opportunities. ecoPreserve evaluated existing operations—including performance, processes, data systems, and policies—and identified significant gaps in tracking, stakeholder coordination, and diversion infrastructure. A detailed onsite waste characterization study quantified the composition of SJU’s waste stream and determined that approximately 37% of materials are recoverable, with the greatest opportunities in plastics, aluminum, paper towels, compostable food waste, and donatable items. The team also identified opportunities to develop key policies such as documented solid waste management protocols, sustainable purchasing guidelines, construction waste standards, and consistent reporting requirements.
Building on these findings, ecoPreserve developed a strategic framework centered on two core objectives: reducing waste generation and increasing diversion, supported by measurable 2030 targets. The report outlines a sequenced set of feasible and future initiatives, including establishing a Green Team, expanding centralized data tracking, reintroducing targeted recycling programs, piloting composting, integrating sustainability requirements into tenant leases, and modernizing waste-handling infrastructure. Together, these recommendations provide SJU with a clear, actionable roadmap to reduce landfill dependence and advance long-term airport sustainability.
