Eielson recycling project kicks off

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Rachelle Coleman
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  People here soon will have the opportunity to reduce waste by recycling paper, plastic, tin, aluminum and glass products on base when a new recycling program kicks off in the weeks following Earth Day April 22.

Officials in the 354th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Flight have been working diligently to restore a way for people to recycle since the previous program ended. The new program will collect recyclable material that will used by two local companies to produce energy for the Fairbanks community.

"Their philosophy is that they are trying to, as much as possible, keep the end revenues here in the Fairbanks area," said Mr. Loren Garner, an environmental engineer with the 354th CES.  "By keeping the revenues in the interior, they have a better chance of turning the corner economically because it's normally the shipping that puts everything upside down. By doing that, they keep the jobs and economic growth here."

Collection bins will be at three different locations on base. Blue plastic bins may be in the workplace from the last effort to have a recycling program on base. Those containers still can be used as well as any other boxes or containers that are clearly labeled for recycling.

Each of the recycling containers at the collection sites are color coded: mixed paper and cardboard go in blue bins, aluminum cans go in green bins, tin cans in black bins, plastics in yellow bins and glass in red bins.

Involvement is strictly voluntary. Collection points will be set up on base and a local recycler will deliver the material to the power facility. This process is designed to benefit both the local economy and the environment.

"From an environmental perspective we significantly reduce the amount of material that goes to the landfill," Mr. Garner said. "We're able to derive energy from the materials or put them back into useful products rather than bury them."

Everyone is encouraged to recycle but only if they're willing to prepare and properly separate recyclables from trash in order to make the recycling program successful.

"My personal goal is that we (provide recyclable material) that is as clean as we can," Mr. Garner said.

According to Mr. Garner, Eielson officials have tried to make significant recycling efforts in the past but those efforts were not cost effective or functional due to non-recyclable trash contaminating the recyclable material.

"We're excited to have a local business entity where we can partner and benefit together," he said. "Without local end-uses, recycling will never be cost effective in Alaska."

"The importance of having a recycling program available here at Eielson cannot be overstated," said Brig. Gen. Jim Post, the 354th Fighter Wing commander. "Our community has anxiously waited for a viable recycling program...and persistence and patience have finally paid off.  This is a very important initiative and a responsible way for each of us to contribute to the welfare of our environment and installation."

The new recycling program is a way for Eielson people to work together with Fairbanks and the surrounding communities to forge a bond that helps the base, the community and the environment.