Arnold AFB Recycling Facility improvements completed

  • Published
  • By Jill Pickett
  • AEDC/PA

The Arnold Engineering Development Complex Base Civil Engineering Branch recently completed quality-of-life upgrades at the base Recycling Facility.

The effort converted an approximately 400 square-foot covered concrete slab adjoining the facility into two new spaces – a breakroom with office area and a unisex restroom.

“The work environment was tremendously improved by the additions,” said Mark Anderson, Arnold Air Force Base Qualified Recycling Program manager.

Previously, the building did not have a restroom, and facility staff did not have a break area separate from the shop area.

The project also entailed creating a new covered concrete slab for required work needs and installing a new roll-up door in the shop area, allowing cardboard and mixed paper bales to be moved to a storage area.

The facility is used to unload, sort and process recyclable materials collected around the base. Recyclables collected include cardboard, mixed paper, toner cartridges, aluminum cans and plastic bottles. Cardboard and mixed paper are baled and stockpiled until a tractor trailer load is collected, then sold to area vendors.

The recycling program services bins for the collection of all these materials. Scrap metal is also collected, sorted and sold through the recycling program. Construction materials and demolition debris that can be recycled or reused are stored at various locations by the team until a project arises where they can be used.

Recycling and reusing material helps the Air Force act as a good environmental steward while conserving resources by reducing the amount of new materials that are needed. These actions also extend the service life of landfills by diverting material from them, a goal of the Solid Waste Management Plan for the installation.

Additionally, Arnold AFB benefits financially through operation of the recycling program.

“Because Arnold Air Force Base has and continues to meet the Air Force requirements of a Qualified Recycling Program, which include meeting specific recycling goals, program accountability requirements, cost benefit analysis criteria and budget requirements, proceeds from the sale of recycled materials are retained at the base level to benefit the base in the specific areas of pollution abatement, energy conservation, occupational safety and health, and Services activities,” Anderson said.

If members of Team AEDC have questions regarding what is and is not recyclable at Arnold AFB, they may call 931-454-6068.