Catering waste in the spotlight - at last.

The waste involved in the disposal of food off aircraft has long been justified as a quarantine imperative, but there appear to be some good reasons for revisiting it.

For decades airline caterers have had to incinerate everything that comes off the aircraft except for unopened beverages.

Now the Board of Airline Representatives of Australia has declared that some long-haul airlines have been recycling some other items from the food carts, such as unopened biscuits, nuts and other packaged snacks.

But even BARA admits that this seems to contravene the quarantine rules and has called for some clarification.

BARA says that, "the various State offices of the Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) – formerly the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service – adopt different approaches for quarantine compliance associated with the facilities.

"BARA maintains that each State BSG office should have in place a Compliance Agreement with each catering facility. However, this is not the case.

"Such agreements should be established with each airline catering facility as a matter of urgency to ensure uniformity of quarantine compliance across the country and clarity regarding compliance requirements.

"The disposal of galley waste from aircraft results in a high cost impost on airlines.

"This matter was considered by the Nairn Report back in 1996. Recommendation 79 of the Report stated that 'galley waste and other refuse from international aircraft may be disposed of at a municipal or other commercial waste disposal facility under standard waste control measures'.

"The Government responded that further scientific assessment was required before a final decision could be made in relation to the recommendation.

"However, the aviation industry has not been advised whether the proposed scientific assessment ever occurred and aircraft galley waste is still being treated as quarantinable waste.

"BARA maintains that, in the event that the suggested scientific assessment of disposal of aircraft galley waste has not occurred, it should be undertaken as a priority and the treatment of aircraft galley waste should be reconsidered."

In an era of such heightened consciousness about waste it is surprising that this hasn't been raised more vigorously before.