Moody stays 'green' while saving money

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Melissa K. Mekpongsatorn
  • 23rd Wing Public Affairs
MOODY AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Recycling is nothing new to Team Moody members, but as of Oct 1, significant changes have been made on how the program is run and its affect on the base.

Moody's previous recycling center is now the Solid Waste Management Facility, and all recyclables around base are picked up by Southern Recycling Industries (SCI).

Moody generates approximately 380,000 pounds of waste a month and normally about 36 percent to 40 percent of that is recycled. The Air Force strives to increase that number to 50 percent by 2015.

"We have to make sure we do our part," said Elvis Lane, 23rd Civil Engineer Squadron environmental specialist. "It may not seem important to recycle, but it is, and we need the support of the base. We need people to vigilant in their recycling."

Recycling is not only beneficial for the environment, it saves money as well. It costs the Air Force money to dispose of trash, but Moody's new Memorandum of Agreement with SCI means it costs nothing to recycle.

For the first time ever, Moody will generate a profit from recycled items. The recycling program and Moody will earn two percent of what SCI makes off all recycled items.

"If we recycle items instead of throwing them away, we save money and that can be used for mission essential equipment and supplies," said Bill Fowler, 23rd CES environmental compliance supervisor. "Recycling is not only cost effective but it reduces the negative impact trash has on the environment," he added.

Every building on base should have a central point of recycling. Large cardboard bins have also been added on base. They are similar to dumpsters but have a slotted cover, and are for cardboard ONLY.

"Please make sure you are putting the proper materials in the marked bins or SCI will not pick them up," said Michael Frost, 23rd CES assets management flight chief. "Don't make it a hassle, no trash in the bins!"

Monday through Thursday, SCI will pick up all the recycling on base from pickup locations. The old recycling center will only have a small area to drop off items. For larger items that are taken to the center, there is no longer a forklift available; customers will have to bring their own.

"It is important that supervisors get involved and push to recycle, we need to change the culture of thinking on base to incorporate recycle into daily activities," said Fowler. "The more we can do the better it can be for the base, we just need to get everybody on board."

There are several common items that people throw away can be recycled: Loose paper, magazines, aluminum cans, plastic, and printer cartridges to name a few. For more information on what can be recycled or to acquire recycle bins, contact Elvis Lane at 229-257-3849.