Recycle center back in operation

  • Published
  • By William Fowler and Elvis Lane
  • 23d Civil Engineer Squadron
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  The Moody Air Force Base, Ga., Recycle Center is back in full operation, and installation personnel are glad to have the facility back to regular duty hours. Over the last few months the Recycle Center has only been open a few hours on Tuesday and Thursday.

Elvis Lane and the 23d Civil Engineer Squadron environmental compliance staff have been working hard to keep the recycle program operational. In 2005, cuts in defense spending caused major commands to reduce funding for all recycling programs. The budget cuts meant that recycling services such as operating the facility, recyclables pick up and processing recyclables would be eliminated or reduced.

Between 2011 and 2012, Lane, 23d CES environmental compliance section, negotiated with a local contractor to pick up, process recyclable trash and man the recycle center from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday to Friday, at no cost.

This is a win, win, for Moody because many large bulk items were being improperly put in the dumpster, which cost the base a lot of money versus taking the items to the recycle center to be disposed of for free. Additionally, Moody gets a profit from the sale of recyclables, with a portion of those profits going towards the support of morale welfare and recreation programs for base personnel. The more we recycle, the more money comes back to Moody.

This year the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force mandated that all installations increase solid waste reduction by increasing recycling to 55 percent by 2015. Unfortunately, Moody's solid waste reduction percentage has steadily dwindled and is now at 35percent.

Moody has everything it needs to have an effective recycle program, but now it's up to base personnel to make it work. Moody has a suspense to meet, and we can save/make money in the process.

How Can I Help?

1) Put recycling trash in the appropriate recycling container, not in the trash. If you see recyclables in the trash, remove them from the trash and put them in the recycle container. Remember recyclables mean money.

2) Clean food material from recyclables

3) Call for heavy metal. Bring all metal and scrap metal to the Recycle center. We want scrap metal items from shops and home.

4) Look for the chasing arrows on containers. They're not really chasing anything, but they represent opportunity. They indicate that the item is recyclable, which can make the base money.

Call or email 23d CES environmental compliance at william.fowler@moody.af.mil or elvis.lane@moody.af.mil if you have questions about Moody's Recycling Program. Currently, we are conducting briefings about Moody's recycling program at squadron commander's calls. Please contact us if you would like to have this briefing at squadron commander's call or shop meeting.