Smart Waste Flows
Terminal Interventions
What belongs in a bin with an apple-shaped opening? An apple, not a plastic bottle. It is a simple cue that works across languages and cultures and can make passengers from all nationalities sort correctly.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of waste pass through the terminal. But to improve recycling, airports first need to understand what ends up in each bin and why. That is not as simple as it sounds. Passengers arrive from all over the world, each with different recycling habits and expectations.
To identify the most common mistakes and find smarter ways to prevent them, Brussels Airport combined waste audits, sensors, cameras and on-site observations.
The insights sometimes led to surprisingly simple solutions. One of the most effective? An apple-shaped opening for organic waste, making the right bin instantly recognisable.