Environmental

The Allegheny County Airport Authority is committed to protecting and preserving the environment and supports conservation and sustainability initiatives year-round through a variety of programs and community service efforts.

With more than 9,000 acres of land at Pittsburgh International Airport and Allegheny County Airport in West Mifflin, PA, the Airport Authority’s Environmental and Workplace Safety team is responsible for overseeing environmental compliance, sustainability and workplace safety, among other programs to ensure both airports operate under best practices of environmental management.

Airport Carbon Accreditation Program

• ACAA Carbon Policy Statement

ESG Report

ESG is a framework that considers environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors, alongside financial factors, and plays an important role in investment and decision-making processes. ESG-related actions have been shown to strongly influence long-term investment performance and resilience, and the ACAA strives to be a world leader in sustainability for the benefit of passengers, the local community, and future generations.

View Report

Microgrid

In October 2019, Pittsburgh International announced it will become the first major U.S. airport powered entirely by a microgrid. The microgrid is unique because not only will it power both terminals, the airfield, the Hyatt hotel and a Sunoco gas station, it will be fueled in part by the airport’s own natural gas wells drilled on-site and nearly 8,000 solar panels across eight acres. Learn more here.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 and FAA Order 5050.4B, Implementing Instructions for Airport Actions, the Allegheny County Airport Authority (ACAA) is publishing a notice of availability (NOA) of the FONSI and Final Supplemental EA for the PV Solar Array Microgrid Phase 2 Expansion Project.

• Click here to view the NOA
• Click here to view the FONSI
• Click here to view the Final Supplemental EA

Community Support

Members of the Airport Authority team participate in community service activities throughout the year, including:

• Cleanup and beautification projects to support the Montour Trail, a 60-plus mile recreational trail in Pittsburgh
• Partnerships with the Montour Run Watershed Association to improve the water quality of local streams
• Participation in the annual “Plant a Tree at Flight 93” volunteer event at the National Memorial site in Shanksville, PA
• Volunteer efforts supporting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Recycling

From saving plastic water bottles to spent aircraft deicing fluid, Pittsburgh International Airport has implemented several programs to help reduce waste in its daily operations.

• Water bottle filling stations can be found in several locations through PIT’s pre-security and post-security terminals. Since beginning the program, the airport has saved an average of 340,740 water bottles per year.
• To promote waste reduction, Pittsburgh International also offers Beverage Disposal Stations near its security checkpoints. The stations allow passengers to dump their unfinished drinks prior to the screening process and then keep or recycle their bottle or cup. Learn more here.
• Pittsburgh International was one of the first airports to begin managing and reclaiming spent aircraft deicing fluid. The airport has captured and recycled more than 150 million gallons since 1998. Learn more here.

Food Rescue

In partnering with one of the fastest-growing food recovery organizations in the U.S., Pittsburgh-based 412 Food Rescue, the airport provided nearly 4,000 meals for the Pittsburgh community in 2018 and rescued more than 4,300 lbs. of food. The partnership includes twice-weekly pickups of excess food from more than 30 restaurants throughout the airport. Learn more about the partnership here.

Honeybees

Pittsburgh International Airport’s wildlife population includes millions of honeybees, thanks to a thriving apiary program held on airport property. With large amounts of unused land, airports including PIT, are excellent sanctuaries for the declining honeybee population, which has been threatened by stresses including exposure to pesticides, parasites and poor nutrition. Read more here.