b'66 INDUSTRY INSIDER LXL HYDRAULIC SLIDEThe Circular MandateTransformingGATE OPER ATORConstruction Plastics from Liability to Resource POWERFUL ENOUGH TO MOVE GATES UP TO 3000LBSAirports are among the mostTwo insights stand out:visible symbols of growth andGil Yaron is managing Inconsistent reporting: Current wastedirector of Circular connectivity. But behind everydata rarely distinguishes plastics byInnovation for Light expansion or modernization lies a realitytype, making it difficult to set targets,House, a Vancouver-that is less celebrated: the mountains ofbenchmark progress or verify ESGbased organization construction and demolition waste theseperformance. working to advance projects generate.regenerative and circular policy and A hidden liability: Because plasticspractices in the built environment that Within that vast stream, plastics standare not tracked separately, they out. Packaging, wraps, strapping andnurture human health and well-being. He remain invisible in project reporting,brings more than 30 years of experience other polymer-based materials appearundermining operational transparencyin policy, research, stakeholder on virtually every job site. Yet despiteand sustainability goals.engagement, circular economics, their ubiquity, they are rarely tracked ormaterial diversion strategies, extended managed in a systematic way. For airportFor airport stakeholders, unmanagedproducer responsibility and Construction, authorities and contractors navigatingplastics expose projects to: Renovation and Demolition policy and billion-dollar capital projects throughoutLimited visibility into true wastepractice. North America, that is a blind spot thatvolumes, since plastics are typically cant be ignored. lumped into mixed loads. applied to projects of every size, including In 2024, Light House launched theLost opportunities to demonstratethe largest and most complex airport Construction Plastics Initiative (CPI), acircularity, as recyclable plasticsbuilds.first-of-its-kind pilot program to capture,that could re-enter the supply chain divert and repurpose plastic waste intoinstead end up in landfill. The Call to Actionnew building materials. Working with 10 Reputational risk, because airportsFor airport authorities, general contractors construction projects, we piloted practicalare high-profile projects whereand developers, the takeaway is clear: solutions such as on-site collection,sustainability commitments areNow is the time to act. By embracing supplier engagement and repurposingclosely scrutinized by investors,circular systems for plastics, you can:plastics into new building materials. Theairlines and the traveling public. Mitigate risk by improving visibility goal: prove that circular systems for plastics are both possible and scalable. In short, plastics left untracked andinto a major but under-tracked waste unmanaged remain a hidden liability forstream. MADE INLEARN MORE What the Data Shows major airport projects.Strengthen your airports reputationUL CERTIFIED ABOUT GATE To move beyond pilot projects, we neededby showing measurable sustainabilityAMERICA OPERATORSdata. Our CPI Benchmarking Study isPathway to a Circular Future leadership in high-visibility projects.the first effort to quantify constructionThe good news is that solutions areDemonstrate innovation by integrating plastics waste throughout Canada. Byaccessible and high-impact. Externalrecycled plastics into the construction analyzing diversion rates from 253 LEED- research shows up to 80% of constructionsupply chain. FEATUREScertified projects throughout the nation,plastic waste is clean packaging that could we established a conservative baseline:be readily captured and diverted. Airports are built to last for decades.Safe 24VDC controls standard On board 3 button control stationdiversion intensity averages 1.1 to 2.7The systems we adopt today will define Through CPI, weve shown how simplenot only how efficiently these facilitiesDrive rail increases rigidity of gate panel On board LCD display for programmingkg/m, with institutional buildings suchmeasures can convert plastic waste into as airports having the highest diversionoperate, but also how responsibly theyContinuous duty operation and diagnosticsraw materials for new products. Insteadare built. By addressing plastics now, intensity of all building types.of treating plastics as an afterthought,Hand release for manual operation Standard voltages & phasesFor airports, the implicationsproject teams can embed circularity intowe can transform a hidden liability into aBuilt-in maximum run timer and timer to close Customer/Tech Supportare significant. Construction of aconstruction practices from the ground up. resource that delivers both environmental and economic benefits.260,000-square-meter terminal or hangarWhen our full CPI findings are released could generate the equivalent of at leastin 2026, we will provide a blueprintThe full CPI Benchmarking Report is 140 million plastic bags. for scalea tested model that can beavailable at Light House.org. 866.467.2773|BBRSS.COMNovember | December 2025AirportImprovement.com'