AEDC Services team tackles a big job

  • Published
  • By Philip Lorenz III
  • AEDC/PA
Arnold Air Force Base, Tenn. --  Arnold Engineering Development Center's (AEDC) Resource Recovery and Recycling Program (RRRP) involves some heavy lifting inside, but occurs mainly outside the 225-plus buildings on AEDC's approximately 40,000 acres, including the Tennessee National Guard firing range, Gossick Leadership Center, Crockett's Cove, FamCamp and base housing, in all types of weather. 

"Base Services is the central organization responsible for the collection, sales and management of our recycling program," explained Keith Carnley, the 704th Civil Engineer Squadron's environmental compliance lead. "They make it happen." 

Robbie Evans, a base Services motor vehicle operator and the lead for the three-man team tasked with the hands-on aspect of the RRRP, said the effort is worthwhile for those who visit and work at AEDC, including the families who live in base housing. 

"Our recycling program is good for the environment, for the work force and it also provides money to sustain and improve the process," said Jan Dent, 704th Mission Support Group's acting director of base Services. "That doesn't even include the money that can be put toward Non-Appropriated Fund programs, like our recreation programs on base." 

Evans said his job entails "pollution prevention and waste stream diversion." 

On an average day, Evans said he, Stanley Hill and Bronson Kindermann collect 31 pounds of plastic (type 1 and 2), 1,800 pounds of cardboard and 500 pounds of office (mixed) paper from 62 large containers distributed around the buildings on base. 

Evans acknowledged the market fluctuates on these recyclable products, with mixed paper being the current top money maker, but the work tempo remains the same. 

During the year and a half he has been working with base recycling, Evans said improvements have been made to the program. 

"[We also collect] toner ink jet cartridges, cell phone and computer batteries," he said. "I wouldn't say there are any challenges, other than diverse conditions, as far as weather [is concerned] and keeping an eye on everything and consistency. It [recycling] is not something you're ever going to get caught up on; you just prepare yourself for tomorrow." 

The current recycling program, the part managed by base Services, collects and recycles on average 62 tons of paper, 202 tons of cardboard, 400 pounds of aluminum cans, 162 laserjet cartridges, 2,170 toner cartridges and four tons of plastic annually, according to Dent. 

"Our base Services team's recycling efforts have resulted in a net income of $28,007 for fiscal year 2008," Dent said. "The majority of this money, according to federal and Air Force regulations, goes back into our recycling program for maintenance and support costs, with some funds allocated for existing base Services programs." 

She added that the responsibility for recycling still begins with anyone who puts trash into a container anywhere on base, especially where recycling bins are located. 

Evans said 200 paper bins and 128 cardboard bins are distributed and readily available in the base's buildings.