Sandra Wärenhed | 2026-07-08
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX Airport) is Arizona’s largest and busiest airport and the 11th busiest in the United States in terms of passenger boardings. It serves as a hub for American Airlines and a base for Frontier Airlines and Southwest Airlines and it is also home to a military air base. 5 recently installed Orwak balers help the airport recycle a new line of materials.
Obviously, an airport of that size requires well organized internal and external logistics and an effective waste management and recycling solution.
Strategically located on the loading docks
ANCO, the Orwak dealer in Arizona and an industry leader in sales, service and installation of recycling equipment, recently provided PHX Airport with 5 units of the Orwak Compact baler 3120 for plastic film. Each baler is strategically located on a loading dock in the vicinity of existing 60″ cardboard balers. Cardboard has been baled and recycled for quite some time, but plastic film is also a recyclable that deserves attention and being treated as a resource.
Part of recycling initiative
It is part of the City of Phoenix’s recycling initiative and baling plastic film allows PHX Airport to be more eco-friendly. Before, a lot of plastic film ended up in the basic trash, but the waste situation has improved remarkably as the airport is able to collect and recycle the plastic now.
Since plastic contains a lot of air, compaction makes a huge difference and strong strapping of the bales prevents the material from bouncing back. Thanks to the compaction ratio of up to 10:1, there is less volume to transport, and this saves the airport money on hauls as well.
Compact-sized balers fit in confined space
ANCO recommended the Orwak baler 3120 due to its good properties for plastic compaction and its compact size. Some of the units are installed in tight spots where the typical 60’’ would not fit.
“PHX Airport are very happy with the 3120s, as it allows them to efficiently recycle a new line of materials which they previously were just disposing of. It turns waste into value, improves logistics and reduces costs.”