Air Force focuses on sustainability this Earth Day

  • Published
  • By Vicki Peters, AEDC Contributing Writer
  • AEDC/PA
ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, TENN. --  This April 22 Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) will join the Air Force and the rest of our nation in celebrating Earth Day and will voice its commitment to protecting, conserving and restoring the natural environment. Personnel at installations worldwide are being encouraged to explore and implement new ways to promote sustainability both at home and at work, and to find new ways to "Conserve Today - Secure Tomorrow."

Installations are taking aggressive action to enhance sustainability and achieve the goals established by the DoD Strategic Sustainability Performance Plan (SSPP) for managing water resources, conserving energy and reducing waste and pollution.

In addition to calling for a reduction in consumption of potable water, a decrease in greenhouse emissions, and strong measures to conserve energy, the plan has made reduction in the amount of waste generated and collected by facilities a top priority. In fact, the SSPP calls for 65 percent of non-hazardous solid waste to be reused, recycled or composted by 2015. The Air Force met the 2013 goal of 46 percent, and exceeded the 56-percent goal for construction and demolition debris landfill diversion by successfully diverting 67 percent of these materials.

According to Jan Dent, AEDC Chief of Services, recycling is the simplest and most convenient way for every individual to support sustainability. The Air Force considers recycling to be a serious matter. In fact, in various environmental unit compliance inspections, inspectors have been known to "suit up" and conduct "dumpster dives" to verify that recyclable materials are not being thrown away.

Dent explained recycling at AEDC is easy. Under the Services Recycling Program recycle containers for mixed paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, and certain plastics are provided in convenient locations at most facilities on base. Collection and processing of recycled materials is handled by the "Green Team," managed by Robbie Evans and supported by team members Doug Richards and Jennifer Garner.

Green Team members are enthusiastic about their task and are proud that the team is self-supporting. Evans explained that money collected from recycling efforts not only funds the recycling and pollution prevention program, but contributes to other Services activities such as the AEDC Children's Christmas Party, various youth activities, and other activities. Since Services functions are open to active duty and retired military and their families as well as to current AEDC employees and their families, the recycling efforts benefit all AEDC personnel.

Evans explained that AEDC has a limit on the amount of garbage that goes into landfills and is penalized $210 per ton for disposal of trash collected in dumpsters above that limit. He noted that recycling can keep the complex within limits. On average, the team collects and recycles 280 tons of cardboard, 175 tons of paper, eight tons of plastics, and two tons of aluminum.

Richards said that the team can collect other recyclables as well. Wooden pallets may be placed next to cardboard bins for pickup. Printer cartridges - including those from inkjet printers - can be recycled placing them in the box used to package the new cartridge and leaving the packaged used cartridge near the paper recycle bin. The team recycles almost two tons of these each year. Evans added that old binders can also be placed by the paper bins for recycling.

While the team is not equipped to pick up scrap metal and glass from all facilities, Evans pointed out that the team can recycle them. Citing examples of the types of metal collected, he said the team has recycled things such as old barbecue grills and clean, empty food cans. They also accept clear, brown, and green glass (no light bulbs). Richards noted there are two multi-purpose recycling locations - one behind the Administrative and Engineering Building (A&E, Building 100) and the other is the Arnold Village, near the ball field and Services Marketing/HRO, Building 3055, Westover Road. Glass may also be brought to the bins outside the Recycle Center, Building 1426.

Garner, the newest member of the team, said she was surprised at the variety of items that can be recycled and has made recycling a habit. She challenges people to recycle more both at work and at home. For those who do not have recycle facilities in their communities, Evans pointed out that the Recycle Center can accept the same items from home as accepted on site.

When asked which plastics are recyclable, Evans explained that currently the Green Team can accept only two types of plastic: high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE). These are often indicated by Arabic numbers, with HDPE being 1 and PETE being 2. Richards said that if a plastic has a 1 or 2, the team will take it, noting that one time the team recycled a surf board.

A tour of the Recycle Center reveals a large shredder, compacter and other equipment along with stacks of compacted material accumulating until the right amount is collected for delivery to outside agencies for recycling. Evans notes that the ability to shred and/or compact material into bales has reduced the number of trips needed to take recyclables off site, thus saving time, energy, and man hours.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), landfills are the largest source of human-caused methane, a greenhouse gas, 21 times more powerful than carbon dioxide. Nearly 90 percent of what we throw away could potentially be recovered through reuse, recycling, or composting. Recycling is not only good for the environment, it also saves energy. In most cases, it takes less energy to create new items from recycled materials than it does to create new products from raw materials.

Dent indicated that she appreciates efforts of those who recycle and encourages everyone to participate. A small effort from each individual can make a large impact in the effort to "Conserve Today - Secure Tomorrow."