Business
Business

Hartsfield-Jackson’s green dreams meet reality

Liza Milagro, the airport’s senior sustainability leader, at the site of the future Green Acres airport composting and recycling facility. The project has been on the drawing board for years but has been slowed by contracting issues. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Credit: Kelly Yamanouchi

Liza Milagro, the airport’s senior sustainability leader, at the site of the future Green Acres airport composting and recycling facility. The project has been on the drawing board for years but has been slowed by contracting issues. BOB ANDRES /BANDRES@AJC.COM
By
Oct 28, 2016

Officials at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport for years have pursued an unusual goal: To build a first-of-its-kind recycling and composting facility on airport grounds.

It’s the linchpin in a lofty ambition: To make the world’s busiest airport — home to tens of thousands of cars and shuttles and thousands of jet aircraft taking off and landing daily — also a leading “green” airport.

“I want Hartsfeld-Jackson to be one of the most sustainable airports in America,” Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said of the city-run airport.

Finding a business to take on the project, dubbed Green Acres ATL Energy Park, has turned into a case of good intentions flying headlong into reality, however.

Read more about the Green Acres project -- and the challenges it faces -- on MyAJC.com.

About the Author

As business team lead, Kelly Yamanouchi edits and writes business stories. She graduated from Harvard and has a master's degree from Northwestern.

Follow Kelly Yamanouchi on facebookFollow Kelly Yamanouchi on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

An aerial image shows the main square at Atlantic Station with the Atlanta skyline in the background on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

Atlanta has lots of empty offices. But are tenants finally ready to settle?

Metro Atlanta’s office sector just posted one of its best quarters on paper since the COVID-19 pandemic, leasing more workspace than was vacated.

1h ago

Delta unveils new employee uniform collection produced by Lands’ End

Delta has unveiled a new line of flight attendant, airport customer service and maintenance employee uniforms.

John Hope Bryant and Centennial Yards backer launch huge housing fund

CIM Group and Bryant Group Ventures have formed a partnership to “address the immense need for affordable housing."

The Latest

The Porsche 718 Cayman has alternated between four- and six-cylinder models since its 2006 debut. (Courtesy of Porsche)

Credit: Courtesy of Porsche

OPINION

Saying goodbye to the Porsche 718 Cayman — for now

OPINION

2026 Nissan Leaf: Simple to live with and priced right

Stellantis car parts facility planned for Georgia could mean quicker repairs

Featured

Helen Gilbert places flowers on her brother Eurie Martin’s grave at Camp Spring Baptist Church in Sandersville. Her brother died eight years ago. Three former Washington County deputies are accused of causing his death and are set to stand trial Monday. (Miguel Martinez/AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez

A last request: He asked for water but ended up in a deadly arrest.

Three white former deputies in Central Georgia face a retrial on murder charges after shocking Black pedestrian Eurie Martin with a Taser in 2017.

How two obscure races became a referendum on Georgia Power bills

Georgia Power customers have seen bills rise. Now they get to vote for two members on the state regulatory commission for the first time since 2020.

Spelman College, CAU get $38 million donations from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott

Since the 2019 announcement of her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Scott has made significant investments in HBCUs across the country.