Airport chiefs told to slash number of clear plastic bags handed out for liquids at security check-points
AIRPORT bosses were last night told to stop handing out plastic bags at security checks.
The Department for Transport said that airports should look for a sustainable alternative to the clear bags, which are used to carry liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) through security scanners.
The bags were introduced after terrorists tried to blow up aircrafts at Heathrow with homemade liquid explosives in 2006.
A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: “This government is determined to cut single-use plastic and the use of eco-friendly plastic bags at airports would be a welcome step in the right direction.
“We would encourage airlines and airports to do their bit.”
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs also encouraged airports to “explore alternatives”, and said that compostable bags could be part of the solution.
A spokesperson said: “the UK is committed to being a global leader in tackling the issue of plastic pollution.
“We welcome attempts by airports to cut conventional single-use plastic and explore alternatives.
“Compostable bags can be part of the solution, but it’s important that they are disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way so they can break down properly and do not pose a risk to wildlife.”
London City Airport uses more than two million of the non-recyclable bags every year, while London Stansted uses a shocking 11 million.
New technology
The development of new technology could make the use of LAG bags a thing of the past.
Heathrow airport last year announced that they are investing £50m in new computer tomography (CT) security scanners, which would allow passengers to keep liquids in their hand luggage.
The technology is similar to that currently used in hospitals, and would mean makeup, perfume and deodorant could be kept in hand luggage bags.
The machines are already used in the US, including in Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson airport, and Chicago's O'Hare airport.
Heathrow's chief operations officer, Chris Garton, said: "This cutting-edge kit will not only keep the airport safe with the latest technology, but will mean that our future passengers can keep their focus on getting on with their journeys and less time preparing for security screening."
Over the busy Christmas period, Stansted trialled the use of compostable bags to hold LAGs, after the airport’s security team said the traditional bags were bad for the environment.
From December 17, staff gave out 50,000 of the bags.
The airport’s environment manager, Martin Churley, said: “As we reach the end of another busy year, tens of thousands of passengers have been passing through the terminal each day – each with a plastic bag for their liquids, many of which will simply end up in the bin.”
He continued: “However, we’re always on the lookout for new ways to cut down on waste, and trialling new compostable bags is just another example of how we are leading the way in tackling some of the local environmental impacts which come with running this small town that we oversee here at London Stansted.”
London City airport, meanwhile, has offered £10,000 to a company that can find an alternative to the plastic bags, and has said it will trial an alternative to the conventional plastic bags in the first half of this year.
Some UK airports have already made the switch, with Bristol having replaced 1,000,000 clear bags with free biodegradable ones.
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Dubai is currently leading the way, however, having banned all single-use plastics from its two biggest airports from the beginning of this year.
This means that water bottles, drinking straws, plastic cutlery and takeaway food packaging have been cut out of cafes, restaurants and shops, alongside the single-use security bags.
The two airports are hoping to recycle a minimum of 2,000 tonnes annually, starting from March this year.
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