Luke Airmen share environmental innovation

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Rosine
  • Air Force Print News
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. (AFPN) --  A small group of Airmen here have spent the past several days sharing an Air Force environmental innovation and educating some leaders of tomorrow.

These environmentally conscious Airmen are volunteers in the base’s environmental quality program. The innovation is a new environment-friendly recycling bag and the future leaders are children in Phoenix’s elementary schools.

“I enjoy doing it,” said Staff Sgt. Milo Munoz, a program volunteer and F-16 Fighting Falcon crew chief from the 308th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. “For a lot of us, it is really fun.”

But, the noncommissioned officer, known as “Captain Planet” by his co-workers, said the most important part of the base’s environmental program is the increase in education and awareness.

“Education is really the most important thing,” he said. “Because, the wrong information is out there and it can cause people to make wrong decisions. By educating people with the right knowledge, we change their understanding. They understand that even the little things can add up.” 

The Luke Airmen are educating children in the local community with an innovation created to help base housing residents improve their recycling capabilities -- a "Good Stewards" recycling bag.

The bag was created by the base’s environmental office. It is mesh on both sides, machine-washable and designed to hang from a door for easy accessibility. It also has a handle on the bottom to help when emptying contents into a recycling bin and a list of recyclable items printed on the back.

“We tried to make it as convenient as possible,” said Jeff Schone, the base’s chief of environmental quality. “Now we are bringing this idea into the local community.”

The base’s environmental outreach to local schools was done in support of Earth Day April 22. Airmen visited schools and gave away the bags to students in each class. They spoke to the children about recycling, protecting the environment and what they can do to help their school stay environmental friendly.

“They are never too young to teach our children to save our world’s resources,” said Ace Faust, Palm Valley School principal. “Luke Air Force Base has not only helped us with this program but with many others. We have had a good relationship with the base since we opened our doors. And, the best part is that the children get to see another person making a difference -- (the Airmen) are another role model they can follow.”

Teachers feel that the Luke volunteers are making a difference.

“The kids just think these guys are awesome,” said Charles Usher, a fourth grade teacher at Palm Valley School. He is a retired master sergeant who taught professional military education. “They are the most community-minded folks I have ever seen. The kids feel their enthusiasm and now they are gung-ho, too. We love these guys and we love what they are doing for our homes.”