Southwest Airlines Co
Southwest Airlines Waste Data Preview
In 2023, Southwest Airlines conducted an environmental assessment and disclosed corporate waste management data in accordance with recognized sustainability reporting standards. The company provided a breakdown of its waste by type (hazardous vs non-hazardous) and treatment method (recovery vs disposal), enabling greater transparency into its waste handling and environmental practices.
| Metric (tonnes) | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 - 2017 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Waste Generated | 0000000 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | 0000000 |
Total Waste Recovered | 0000000 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | 0000000 |
Total Hazardous Waste Generated | 0000000 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | 0000000 |
Non-Hazardous Waste Disposed | 0000000 | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | Copy restricted. Please purchase to unlock this data.  | 0000000 |
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Insights into Southwest Airlines's Waste Treatment Practices
In 2023, Southwest Airlines generated a total of 8,914 metric tonnes of waste.
Of this amount, 23.6% of Southwest Airlines's total waste generated was recovered through methods such as recycling, reuse, or composting, while 76.4% was disposed of through landfilling, incineration, or combustion.
Southwest Airlines's Waste Recovery Rate
How much of Southwest Airlines's waste is recycled or recovered?
In 2023, Southwest Airlines reported a total waste generation of 8,914 metric tonnes, of which 23.6% was recovered through recycling, reuse, or composting. This low recovery rate highlights limited waste diversion and suggests that Southwest Airlines may be relying more heavily on landfill or incineration, underscoring opportunities for stronger resource recovery initiatives.
Has Southwest Airlines reduced its environmental waste footprint over time?
Since 2019, Southwest Airlines's total waste generation decreased by 4.25%, yet rose by 22.8% in 2023, potentially indicating a temporary operational shift or inconsistency in waste management outcomes.
Over the same period, Southwest Airlines's waste recovery rate declined by 9.42%, yet improved by 12.43% in 2023, pointing to a recent rebound or renewed focus on better waste treatment outcomes.
Overall, Southwest Airlines’s waste generation and recovery data show a mixed and inconsistent trend. A deeper analysis of the company's activities, industry benchmarks, and operational changes is needed to assess its sustainability performance more precisely.
Southwest Airlines’s Waste Recovery vs. Disposal Over Time
- Total Waste Disposed
- Total Waste Recovered
Insights into Southwest Airlines’s Generation of Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste
In 2023, Southwest Airlines generated a total of 8,914 metric tonnes of waste.
Of this amount, 0.39% of Southwest Airlines's total waste generated of was classified as hazardous waste, characterized by properties such as toxicity, flammability, corrosiveness, or reactivity that may pose risks to human health, ecosystems, or the environment. 99.61% was identified as non-hazardous waste, generally considered less harmful and subject to lighter regulatory controls.
Southwest Airlines’s Hazardous vs Non-Hazardous Waste Over Time
- Total Non-Hazardous Waste Generated
- Total Hazardous Waste Generated
How Southwest Airlines reduced the environmental impact of its waste?
Since 2019, Southwest Airlines's total waste generation fell by 4.25%, but rose by 22.8% in 2023 , potentially reflecting a temporary surge in activity or inconsistency in waste control strategies.
Over the same period, the share of hazardous waste in Southwest Airlines's total output increased by 33.03%, including a further 45% rise in 2023, suggesting a troubling upward shift toward more environmentally harmful waste streams that could raise compliance costs and environmental risks.
Overall, Southwest Airlines had previously reduced its waste generation, but recent increases in both volume and hazardousness suggest potential reversals or emerging operational risks that warrant further investigation.
How does Southwest Airlines treat its hazardous waste?
In 2023, Southwest Airlines reported that 35 metric tonnes of its total waste output were classified as hazardous. This represents 0.39% of its overall waste generation.
The company treated this hazardous waste using a combination of methods. A majority (50.14%) was diverted from disposal through recovery-oriented treatments such as recycling or reuse. This suggests that Southwest Airlines has established processes to reduce the environmental burden of its most harmful waste streams.