Does Delta reuse plastic cups
Apr 10, 2019, 2:39 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: DL DM; Marriott Ambasador Elite
Posts: 626
They certainly don’t get washed and reused given they are collected with all the other trash. It would be very difficult and expensive to sterilize a used plastic cup, and in any event I’d be surprised if it weren’t a health code violation in most jurisdictions.
There is a very good chance that they are sent to a recycling facility, but if you do a little research that far from guarantees they are actually recycled.
There is a very good chance that they are sent to a recycling facility, but if you do a little research that far from guarantees they are actually recycled.
Apr 10, 2019, 3:16 pm
#4
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,329
https://news.delta.com/beyond-straw-...-onboard-clubs
"Delta was the first U.S. airline to recycle aluminum cans, plastic bottles and cups, newspapers and magazines from aircraft and has recycled more than 3 million pounds of aluminum from onboard waste – equivalent to 22 Boeing 747s – over 10 years."
"Delta was the first U.S. airline to recycle aluminum cans, plastic bottles and cups, newspapers and magazines from aircraft and has recycled more than 3 million pounds of aluminum from onboard waste – equivalent to 22 Boeing 747s – over 10 years."
Apr 10, 2019, 8:26 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, AA, WP
Posts: 840
It seems that it is getting harder to recycle these days, and numerous places or entities are processing recycling but in the end the stuff winds up in landfill. Some towns aren't even taking recycling, or reducing the kinds of items recycled. For example, ours no longer takes glass or styrofoam anymore.
Apr 10, 2019, 10:57 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
People don’t buy enough products made from recycled content to drive sifficient demand for recycling. If you want to make sure things get recycled please buy the products those items are made into.
Apr 11, 2019, 6:30 am
#7
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
It seems that it is getting harder to recycle these days, and numerous places or entities are processing recycling but in the end the stuff winds up in landfill. Some towns aren't even taking recycling, or reducing the kinds of items recycled. For example, ours no longer takes glass or styrofoam anymore.
Somewhat OT, but at hotels with separate waste baskets for recycling, I regularly see housekeepers combining everything into the same big trash bag.
Apr 11, 2019, 7:10 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NYC, BOS, ORD
Programs: AA EXP, DL PM
Posts: 843
I've always noticed them stacking used plastic cups as they get collected (rather than just tossing them in the trash bag) but I always assumed this was to save space rather than for any reuse/recycling purpose
Apr 11, 2019, 8:01 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2006
Posts: 2,427
Btw....Delta has used funds from inflight recycling to help build some of the 264 Habitat for Humanity houses worldwide.
Last edited by OHDL1; Apr 11, 2019 at 8:07 am
Apr 11, 2019, 8:58 am
#11
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Either at the shooting range or anywhere good beer can be found...
Posts: 51,056
It seems that it is getting harder to recycle these days, and numerous places or entities are processing recycling but in the end the stuff winds up in landfill. Some towns aren't even taking recycling, or reducing the kinds of items recycled. For example, ours no longer takes glass or styrofoam anymore.
Apr 11, 2019, 9:20 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: LHR / BHX / MAN / ATL
Programs: DL DM 2MM - IHG Diamond
Posts: 4,053
BTW, these are the different types of plastics.
#1: PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate)
#2: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
#3: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
#4: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
#5: PP (Polypropylene)
#6: PS (Polystyrene)
#7: Polycarbonate, BPA, and Other Plastics.
I know that #2 HDPE is "hard plastic" (things like brush handles, milk crates, etc). I don't know what is what of the other types.
#2: HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
#3: PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride)
#4: LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene)
#5: PP (Polypropylene)
#6: PS (Polystyrene)
#7: Polycarbonate, BPA, and Other Plastics.
I know that #2 HDPE is "hard plastic" (things like brush handles, milk crates, etc). I don't know what is what of the other types.
Apr 11, 2019, 9:52 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2009
Programs: DL PM, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, AA, WP
Posts: 840
Yah, me too. I remember reading that Delta separates the cups for recycling and that they supposedly sort the garbage from the plane. But recently, I also read that while MEM still has recycling containers in the airport, the airport is no longer recycling.