JOINT BASE CHARLESTON, S.C. –
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control recognized their "Recycling Professionals of the Year" March 2 during a luncheon at the Medallion Center in Columbia, S.C.
Charleston AFB was awarded the 2009 Outstanding Federal Waste Reduction/Recycling Award, which is given to the outstanding federal agency or facility waste reduction and/or recycling program.
"[Wining this award] is very important," said Alan Moyer, the Pollution Prevention and Solid Waste manager for the 628th Civil Engineer Squadron. "It recognizes that the base is very committed to conserving our natural resources. It also emphasizes one of the commitments in our Environmental Policy, [which is] to reduce pollution and work in partnership with all stakeholders to promote pollution prevention."
According to the award write up, in 2009, Charleston AFB achieved a hazardous waste reduction of 29.66 percent and diverted 39 percent of its solid waste to recycling. Overall, 71 percent of all solid waste generated on Charleston AFB was recycled. These rates surpassed the Air Force's goal of 40 percent.
Charleston AFB recently made repairs to runway 03/21 and was able to recycle the concrete and asphalt from the runway demolition. More than 4,000 tons of crushed concrete from the runway was reused as base course and concrete mix for the repairs.
Extensive research was also conducted to identify a vendor to recycle batteries.
Because of the research, the base now recycles 100 percent of its batteries resulting in an annual savings of more than $20,000 in disposal fees and keeps an estimated 10,000 pounds of recyclable material out of the landfill.
These are just two examples of the many recycling programs occurring on base.
Charleston AFB also works hand-in-hand with Charleston County to support the base's recycling efforts.
"We have a memorandum of agreement with Charleston County for the Pollution Prevention Recycling program," said Mr. Moyer. Charleston County provides bulk containers at eleven collection stations throughout the base for the collection of glass, plastic, aluminum cans, steel cans, paper and cardboard."
The county also provides curbside recycling containers to the base's military family housing so residents can recycle everyday materials such as mixed paper, glass, aluminum cans, steel cans and plastic, said Mr. Moyer.
Kent Coleman, the director of DHEC's Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling says local recycling programs are why recycling works in South Carolina.
"This annual awards program allows us to recognize the top recycling programs and projects as well as thank people who work very hard to make recycling such a success," he said in a recent release.
Lt. Col. Richard Sanders, the 628 CES commander echoed those sentiments.
"This award validates the hard work the civil engineer professionals are doing to reduce our solid wastes," he said. "More importantly, it validates the effort that Team Charleston members make every day to make recycling a habit and not just a buzzword."