New York Construction Report staff writer
The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) and Aéro Mag have started construction on a new Glycol recycling facility at Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR). Glycol is the main component in aircraft de-icing fluid and critical to safe operations at airports in colder climates.
Construction crews broke ground last week and work will be completed next fall. The fully facility – also referred to as an “RRR – recover, recycle, reuse Facility” – will take used aircraft de-icing fluid collected from the airport’s multiple pads and refine it into pure glycol that will then be blended and certified as Type I de-icing fluid again. Byproducts of this refinement are glycol and clean water, yielding 5-7 million gallons of reusable water per year as well.
“Aéro Mag wishes to pursue its innovative glycol recycling for the future of aviation and the environment,” said Mario Lépine, president of Aéro Mag.
Talks are underway with other airports in Upstate New York to transport used glycol for recycling at SYR. This affords other airports the opportunity to dispose of used deicing fluid at little to no cost, while benefiting the environment.
Once refined at SYR, that glycol will then be resold to airlines operating in Syracuse.
“This project is an excellent example of our Regional Responsibility efforts,” said SRAA executive director Jason Terreri. “As one of our core values, we know that being a good community partner means placing an emphasis on environmental sustainability.
“Not only will we recycle the glycol utilized at our airport, but our partnership with airports across the region will extend that environmental stewardship well beyond our fence line.”
By June, the low content evaporator will begin treating fluid from this winter up to 10 per cent concentration. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be planned for the fall once the RRR facility is fully operational.
