Apoyo para la evaluación de una alternativa de economía circular para la revalorización de residuos plásticos generados en las bodegas de Aerosan Bogotá

Abstract

The management of plastic waste derived from logistics activities represents an environmental and economic challenge for companies operating in the air cargo transportation sector. In the case of Aerosan SAS Bogotá, located in the cargo terminal of El Dorado International Airport, the management of plastic waste, particularly low-density polyethylene (LDPE), is a relevant issue due to the volume generated monthly, the handling of the waste, and the equipment required for proper storage. In addition to the need for a circular economy alternative that enables the comprehensive management of this recyclable waste—one that is not limited solely to the collection and commercialization of the material but instead encompasses collection, valorization, and reintegration into the value chain as LDPE stretch film, a plastic input essential for packaging in the palletization process on skids and ULD pallets. To evaluate the feasibility of the new LDPE plastic waste management process, the phases of this project are divided into: a general waste diagnosis of the warehouses, a diagnosis focused on plastic waste, a description of the proposed new management process, an estimation of the carbon footprint of LDPE waste, and an evaluation of the economic savings from valorization. The results obtained in this internship confirm significant environmental and economic benefits, as well as important improvements related to waste management within the warehouses.