ATLANTA – Loads of liquid goods discarded by airline passengers at security checkpoints will end up in the trash, not in the pockets of airport employees or others, officials at airports across the country promised Friday.
No exceptions – not even for cases of Napa Valley wine.
“We had people throw away a whole case of wine, or try to drink their wine in line,” said San Francisco International Airport duty manager Lily Wang.
Airport security screeners scrambled to implement a new ban on all liquids and gels – from lip gloss and toothpaste to perfume and tequila – in carry-on luggage after British authorities announced Thursday the arrest of 24 people in an alleged plot to blow up U.S.-bound planes. Baby formula, prescription medication and essential nonprescription medication are still allowed.
“They seal it, they do not touch it, they dispose of it as they would other garbage,” said Daniel Jiron, spokesman for the Albuquerque International Sunport.
All the waste irked some passengers.
“I know they have to do this, but I think they went overboard,” said Terry Asbury, an Ohio resident who flew from Albuquerque to Cincinnati on Thursday and had to throw out her cosmetics. “I literally lost about $50 or $60 worth of things we were told to throw out.”
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport planned to give 11 boxes of surrendered items to the city’s human services department, which will give the unopened bottles of shampoo, toothpaste and other items to homeless shelters, airport spokeswoman Lexie Van Haren said.
Officials at most airports, however, said safety reasons prevented them from giving away the discarded items because many were contaminated by other trash.
Airports reported no problems with employees taking confiscated goods home or people combing through bins for discarded items. Workers taking any of the items would face discipline, airport officials said.
Tisha Presley, bound for Fort Bragg, N.C., hurriedly sipped from her bottled water before going through security at the Atlanta airport.
“I assume before too long we’ll be naked on the plane – and that’s fine with me,” she said.
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