Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circulars

Stowage of Disposable In-flight Service Waste in Aircraft Lavatories

PURPOSE

This Commercial and Business Aviation Advisory Circular (CBAAC) provides clarification on the use of disposable in-flight service waste bags for the stowage of waste material in aircraft lavatories. It also reminds air operators of the conditions required to ensure a consistent and acceptable level of safety.

This CBAAC replaces Air Carrier Advisory Circular (ACAC) 0102 dated August 14, 1996.

This revision defines the eligible low density waste material allowed for stowage in the aircraft lavatory and the type of bags in which this waste may be contained.

The term "garbage bags" used in the previous ACAC 0102 is replaced by the term "disposable in-flight service waste bags". This term is more appropriate because of the requirement to use transparent or fire containment bags in order to properly assess the contents of the bag(s) prior to placement in the lavatory. If an air operator elects to use a fire containment bag, it must be approved by Transport Canada.

For the purpose of this CBAAC, "eligible disposable in-flight service waste material" is defined as low density waste material such as: styrofoam, plastic cups and glasses, empty cans, foil meal trays, foil meal coverings, paper napkins, plastic cutlery and cutlery wrappings, food wrappings such as peanut or pretzel bags, empty plastic water bottles, used newspapers (not bundled) and other passenger paper waste material generated during the flight.

A Notice of Proposed Amendment (NPA) to the Canadian Aviation Regulations (CARs) has been issued in order to generate a Commercial Air Service Standard (CASS). The proposed CASS will standardize the practice that is currently a recommended procedure and will provide air operators with regulatory requirements to address procedures for the stowage of disposable in-flight service waste bags in aircraft lavatories.

BACKGROUND

Air operator inspections have revealed that prior to landing, aircraft lavatories are frequently used as stowage areas for disposable in-flight service waste bags which have accumulated during flight.

Transport Canada recognizes that even with the implementation of on-board waste management programs, air operators must find stowage areas for used items prior to landing.

REQUIREMENTS

Disposable in-flight service waste bags may be used for the stowage of eligible low density waste material in aircraft lavatories under the following conditions:

• The air operator has established procedures in its Flight Attendant Manual, Operations Manual and Flight Attendant Training Program that include the following:
   
  1. flight attendant(s) must verify the content of each disposable in-flight service waste bag prior to placement in the lavatory to ensure the contents are in an acceptable state (i.e. - no smouldering material);
      
  2. only lavatory(ies) next to flight attendant station(s) can be used for this purpose;
      
  3. disposable in-flight service waste bag(s) is/are stowed in a lavatory only after all other means of stowage have been utilized. The stowage of the bag in the lavatory is done during the final phase of flight, that is, after the "fasten seat belt" sign has been illuminated to indicate descent in preparation for landing;
      
  4. the disposable in-flight service waste bag, or combination of bags, must not surpass the height of the lavatory sink;
      
  5. the lavatory door is properly closed and locked to prevent passenger access;
      
  6. the lavatory:
      
     1. has an operational smoke detector;
     2. has an operative door locking mechanism;
     3. can be locked and unlocked externally; and
     4. is not used for the stowage of any other items such as crew bags, headset containers, linen or other fabric items, glass, galley rotables such as carafes, bundled newspapers, carry-on baggage, etc.; and
         
  7. disposable in-flight service waste bags that were stowed in lavatory(ies) prior to landing must be removed from the aircraft after each landing.

Note: An aircraft may be dispatched with an inoperative smoke detector if disposable in-flight service waste bags are NOT placed in the lavatory, therefore minimum equipment list (MEL) relief is NOT applicable when such bags are placed in the lavatory.

CONCLUSION

Air operators are reminded of the restrictions related to the use of disposable in-flight service waste bags for stowage of low density waste material in aircraft lavatories and the associated conditions to ensure a consistent and acceptable level of safety. The air operator should take the content of this CBAAC into consideration when establishing and/or amending procedures for inclusion in their operations manuals and training programs.

M.R. Preuss
Director
Commercial & Business Aviation