Quirós International Airport, also known as Guanacaste Airport and Liberia International Airport, is one of four international airports in Costa Rica and serves as a tourism hub for visitors to the Pacific coast and western Costa Rica. One versatile Orwak baler deals with all the waste streams and keeps up with the pace when the airport expands and beats its all-time record for transit passengers.
All-time passenger record
On December 27, 2025, the airport broke its all-time record for transit passengers in a single day with 13 815, exceeding the 2024 figure by 7 %. A year earlier, the airport invested in the baler 5070-HDC, delivered by the Orwak distributor Grupo Zoe, for more efficient management of recyclable waste. A sound investment in the right time for the expanding airport! Naturally, more passengers mean more waste but also a great opportunity to manage it intelligently.
All recyclables sorted at source and compacted in one baler
To put the impact into perspective, airports of this size can generate approximately 3.5 to 4 tons of recyclable waste daily, mainly plastic bottles, cardboard, paper, and aluminum cans. Having the right equipment makes a major difference in its management.
The Orwak multi-chamber baler 5070-HDC was the right choice, since it enables sorting and compaction of different types of recyclables at the source in open top-loaded chambers. Thanks to its heavy-duty compaction and the cross-binding feature, this model can deal effectively with challenging materials such as cans, jugs and even lightweight wooden packaging. Compaction capacity can also be increased by adding additional chambers later on to adjust to further increasing volumes.
Logistical and environmental benefits
The significant waste volume reduction improves logistics; less frequent collections, optimized transportation and storage, more organized and efficient operations as well as it brings about environmental benefits; reduction in waste sent to landfills and greater use of recyclables, decreased emissions from transportation and direct boost to the circular economy.
More sustainable airport waste management
Furthermore, the compaction and baling solution helps Quirós International Airport achieve sustainable benefits:
- Strengthens the airport’s environmental image
- Supports ESG goals and green strategies
- Aligns with international standards
- Generates social, environmental and economic value
A major step that demonstrates that airport infrastructure can be more efficient, responsible and sustainable.