Most of us don’t spend much time thinking about where the de-icing fluid goes when it runs off the plane. That said, clearly it doesn’t just disappear…which brings up the question of how to safely deal with the leftover chemicals. Rather than just dispose of the used fluid, one company, Inland Technologies, has been recapturing de-icing fluid and recycling it.
Once collected, the used fluid is processed to remove impurities, remanufactured and becomes usable de-icing fluid once again. Inland has worked with the FAA to ensure that the result meets the necessary standards. The idea is catching on. This year, Portland International Jetport (PWM) in Maine has switched to using only Inland’s 100 percent recycled aircraft de-icing fluid (ADF). PWM is a natural fit for the product, since Inland’s newly-expanded manufacturing facility is right next door to the airport.
Learn more at Inland Technologies.