OMA Boosts Circular Economy in Its Airports with a Strategy Set to Impact Over 28 Million Passengers Per Year

Monterrey, N.L., July 22, 2026 – Each year, over 28 million passengers travel through Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte’s (OMA) 13 operated airports. Behind each journey lies the generation of thousands of tons of waste, presenting a significant environmental challenge but also an opportunity to drive a new management model centered on the circular economy.

With this vision in mind, OMA has unveiled its 2030 Circularity Strategy, an initiative designed to revolutionize waste management across its airport network. The strategy seeks to reduce waste sent to final disposal, enhance material recovery, and foster a culture of engagement among passengers, employees, airlines, concession operators, and suppliers.

The strategy began at Monterrey International Airport, where over 50 waste separation stations have been installed as the first visible step of an integral model. The plan includes operational process adjustments, strengthening partnerships to maximize material recovery, tracking environmental performance, and running permanent awareness campaigns.

“Circular economy doesn’t start when waste enters a recycling facility; it begins when each individual decides to separate waste correctly. With this strategy, we aim to transform waste management at our airports and turn millions of passengers into allies in building a more efficient, responsible, and sustainable model,” remarked Ricardo Dueñas, Chief Executive Officer of OMA.

The 2030 Circularity Strategy is guided by four key pillars:

• Infrastructure: Establishing stations that facilitate waste separation at the source.

• Engagement: Involving passengers, employees, airlines, concession operators, and suppliers.

• Material Recovery: Creating partnerships to reintegrate recyclable and organic waste into new production cycles.

• Measurement and Continuous Improvement: Using indicators to evaluate and enhance decision-making processes.

At Monterrey International Airport, approximately 1,300 tons of waste are generated annually. Around 50% of this waste consists of organic materials, 35% is potentially recyclable, and 15% is non-recyclable. Correct separation at the source will significantly enhance the recovery of these materials, reduce the volume sent to final disposal, and lower carbon emissions associated with waste management by over 70%.

The implementation at Monterrey marks the first phase of a corporate strategy that will progressively expand to OMA’s 13 airports, establishing a management model aligned with VINCI Airports’ environmental commitments, the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda, and the objective of achieving ever more efficient resource use.

“Every passenger has the chance to be part of this transformation. A small gesture, like properly separating waste, can have an enormous impact when a system is in place to utilize these materials. This is the change we aim to drive at OMA,” added Dueñas.

With this initial step in Monterrey, OMA is promoting a new way of managing resources across its airports. Because behind a routine action such as separating waste lies a long-term vision: building a more efficient, circular, and sustainable airport network for future generations.