Air Force center receives recycling award Published Jan. 15, 2008 By Janae Daniels Arnold Engineering Development Center Public Affairs ARNOLD AIR FORCE BASE, Tenn. (AFNS) -- In recognition of significant waste diversions achieved from October 2006 through September 2007, the Arnold Engineering Development Center will receive the Government Recycler of the Year award Jan. 18 from the Tennessee Recycling Coalition. In her award notification to AEDC, Gail Randolph, chair for TRC Awards stated, "The men and women at AEDC provide an outstanding service to our nation in testing for our future air and space systems and supporting the war on terror. While accomplishing that mission, the facility strides to set the example in reducing, reusing and recycling our valuable resources." According to Frank Duncan, Air Force Environmental Quality Program manager, 47.1 percent of all non-hazardous solid waste was diverted to recycling activities. This included 2,149 tons of construction and demolition materials, 2,039 tons of scrap metal, 244 tons of paper and cardboard and 147 tons of other materials. In addition, AEDC personnel were credited with recycling 76.1 percent of municipal solid waste, which consists of scrap metal, paper and cardboard and other materials. "This was achieved through source segregation where paper, cardboard and scrap metal were collected in bins distributed across the facility," said John Daniels, Air Force Services Recycling program manager. "The materials from full bins were transported to central locations to be sold to recyclers." Significant strides also were made in reducing the amount of hazardous waste generated, from a high in 1991 of more than 250 tons to 38 tons in fiscal 2007, an 85 percent reduction. Petroleum and hazardous materials recycling efforts included 58 tons of used oil, 75 tons of glycol and seven tons of tires. In addition, as part of the decommissioning of a major facility, more than 114 tons of Trichloroethylene was collected and provided to a vendor who could re-sell it as a usable product. Furthermore, 32.2 percent of all construction and demolition materials were diverted. Scrap metal and wood were segregated prior to landfill disposal. Concrete and other masonry materials were diverted to be used as fill material in support of construction projects across the base. As part of the annual America Recycles Day campaign, environmentalists created a multimedia presentation to promote recycling awareness at AEDC. Information also was made available to the base population concerning recycling opportunities in the surrounding communities. While significant achievements were accomplished, higher achievement also is pursued on a continuous basis. Mr. Duncan indicated that, as part of the overall Environmental Management System, program elements have undergone process improvement evaluations during the last fiscal year. "For example, an evaluation of the construction and demolition landfill resulted in record-keeping improvements, which captured actual diversion rates of more than 50 percent versus the less than 3 percent measured in the first quarter of the fiscal year," Mr. Duncan said. "Other evaluations have resulted in a greater understanding of cost factors and have provided the understanding of how greater recycling rates can be accomplished while reducing program costs." Comment on this story (comments may be published on Air Force Link) View the comments/letters page