“Jackson Hole Airport is committed to leading by example when it comes to sustainability and mitigating environmental impacts,” said JH Airport Board President Rick Braun. “Our location inside Grand Teton National Park comes with a responsibility, one that we take very seriously. Continually working to reduce our footprint is a big part of our mission and reflects our shared community values.”
In the fall of 2018 the Airport conducted a waste study to measure and evaluate the facility’s waste stream, assess existing waste management practices, and provide recommendations for increasing waste diversion from landfill. The results of the waste study were used to create a Waste Management Plan for the Airport to more efficiently manage waste and to increase diversion, in alignment with Teton County and Grand Teton National Park’s goal of 60% diversion by 2030.
“With over 800,000 members of the public passing through the Airport each year, we are in a unique position to set the tone for environmental stewardship for visitors and locals alike,” said JH Airport Board Member Mary Gibson Scott, speaking on behalf of the Environmental Committee. “Education and outreach, along with best waste management practices, will ensure our guests recognize this region and its ecosystem as one that needs to be protected and respected.”
The Road to Zero Waste, a program with Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling (ISWR), provides businesses with strategies and support to reduce on-site waste. By diverting 60% of on-site waste by 2030, Jackson Hole Airport is joining other organizations in the community in recognizing how crucial these steps are to ensure the vitality of our environment for generations to come.
Short-term and long-term recommendations involve both program management as well as concrete strategies for diverting waste. Specifically, JH Airport is committed to reducing waste, as waste avoidance is the number one preferred strategy for waste management. JH Airport will focus on collaboration with tenants, airlines, vendors, waste and recycling contractors, and local pilot composting programs to establish a foundation for a long-term goal of on-site waste reduction.