AirVenture 2009 'Puts Back' Nearly 6 Tons Of Recyclables

Attendees at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009 gave a big boost to the planet and to area Aviation Explorer Posts this summer, as they placed nearly six tons of aluminum and plastic in recycling containers on the grounds during the weeklong event.

EAA AirVenture drew at total attendance of 578,000 during its run on July 27-August 2 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh.

Anheuser-Busch Recycling teamed with Aviation Explorer Posts from La Crosse and Appleton, Wis., to collect 11,780 pounds (5.89 tons) of recyclables at EAA AirVenture in the first full year of the recycling effort.  Historically, the recycling stream from such large public events contain about 70 percent plastic and 30 percent aluminum cans.

That equates to approximately 107,198 16-ounce plastic bottles and 121,569 12-ounce cans being kept out of the landfill. 

"EAA AirVenture is known as one of the cleanest major public events anywhere, and now it's also working toward becoming one of the greenest," said Dan O'Leary of Anheuser-Busch Recycling. "Every person who put an aluminum or plastic beverage container into the recycling bin and kept it out of our landfills deserves our thanks for the success of this program."

A recycling pilot program started at Oshkosh in 2008, but this year Anheuser-Busch Recycling provided additional containers and more than 25,000 blue bags for the campgrounds.  Waste Management donated roll-off containers, hauling costs and sale proceeds for the recyclable material.

Volunteers from the Aviation Explorer Posts helped collect and sort the recyclables, and those units will receive the proceeds from the sale of the recycled material to support youth aviation programs.

FMI: www.eaa.org