Waste

YVR is committed to reducing and diverting waste from landfill.

Waste diversion from landfill has been a long-standing pillar of our environmental goals and will continue to be as we navigate waste management going forward. To highlight our progress to date, our waste diversion has increased from 38% in 2012 to 53% in 2024 while at the same time garbage per passenger decreased by 24%. While these are positive results, we know we can do better. We are setting the goal of achieving Zero Waste for the Main Terminal by 2040 and will be exploring ways to expedite that time frame.

Through our work on decarbonization and energy, we understand how important it is to build from a strong foundation to achieve success. Which is why over the next three years, we will develop a detailed action plan to achieve Zero Waste by 2040, or sooner, that will integrate into the 2025-2027 Strategy . At the same time, we will continue our work to improve our ongoing waste reduction and diversion initiatives including achieving 60% diversion from the Main Terminal by 2027, while adopting the principles of Zero Waste and operating in a circular economy at every opportunity.

Learn through our 2025-2027 Environmental Sustainability Report and more about our progress with reducing waste in our Annual and Sustainability Report.


YVR partnered with ChopValue to upcycle over 1.5 million chopsticks into sustainable tables and tabletops, saving approximately 77 kilograms of CO₂e. That’s equivalent to avoiding the emissions from a road trip between Vancouver and Kelowna.

Developed by Vancouver-based company Intuitive AI, Oscar uses artificial intelligence to identify items and guide users with visual prompts on the correct bin to use, whether it’s for recyclables, organics, mixed paper, or landfill. Oscar first joined the YVR team six years ago as part of a pilot project. Since then, the partnership has grown into a long-term collaboration to transform how we manage waste at the airport: using technology, education, and a dash of personality. What makes Oscar especially effective is its gentle approach. There’s no shaming here—just friendly prompts, cheerful animations, and a simple call to action: Let’s sort this out together. Our collaboration with Intuitive AI represents more than just a smart bin. It’s part of YVR’s broader commitment to supporting local innovation that drives sustainability outcomes. As a community-focused airport, we’re proud to partner with Canadian companies that bring bold ideas to life, right here in our terminal.

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