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Show n J O 9)T(Q)Anl Analysis results back, show need for changes fvT by David W. Harris Environmental Management Directorate f Hold it! Before you toss that piece of paper or that aluminum soda can into the trash, stop and thinkcan that be recycled? Americans throw away billions of tons of trash every year. In fiscal 1989, Hill AFB generated more than 12,000 tons of solid waste. Of that, approximately 85 percent was hauled off base toeither the Davis County Energy Recovery Facility where it was incinerated or the Davis County landfill where it was dumped. Only 15 percent of the solid waste generated at Hill was recycled. To help improve the profitability of Hill's recycling program, Morale, Welfare and Recreation officials commissioned the cost and information team in the Financial Management Directorate to perform an economic analysis of the program and suggest improvements. As a result, MWR officials, in conjunction with the Environmental Management Directorate, hired a research team to determine how much of the material hauled away from the base could be recycled. The team randomly surveyed the contents of dumpsters across the base. The materials were sorted into categories such as paper, plastic or glass and weighed. Once the data were compiled, they were analyzed and compared to national averages researched by the Environmental Protection Agency. Project officials said the analysis produced some interesting results. Despite having a recycling program in place, Hill still discards 3 percent more paper and cardboard than the national average. Hill generates about 33,000 tons of paper and cardboard trash annually. Of that, about 20 percent is recycled, a figure that recycling manager Alyric Ray finds alarming. "We thought we were getting about 65 percent of the paper and cardboard on base," Mr. Ray said. "This survey tells me there is still a lot of paper out there that can be recovered and recycled. More recycled materials means more money to MWR, which collected more than $650,000 from its recycling program in 1989. Mr. Ray said he was impressed with the amount of metals recycled, nearly half of what was disposed of. However, he said many organizations take scrap metal off base instead of recycling it. "Much of the scrap metal generated on base cannot be put in dumpsters. So instead of filling out the proper paperwork, they simply take it off base themselves because it's easier," Mr. Ray said. "People need to realize the importance of recycling, not only because it helps generate money for the base, but because it helps the environment." In addition to making money for MWR, saving the base money was a major concern the survey addressed. Since hauling trash off base can cost more Ml ' ; - - hJ: .; t js J iiV i ji . Ir ' . 4, , . - 7 : . " j Recyclable research U S Air force Pholo bv Gafy Hatch Three members of a contract research team sift through a dumpster full of garbage behind Bldg. 1 102. The team sorted recyclable materials as part of a study to determine Hill AFB's recycling effectiveness. 3 ping them out of state," said Judy Forsgren, 66 This survey tells me there is still a lot of paper out there that can be recovered and recycled. 99 Alyric Ray Base recycling manager than $100 per ton, base officials are looking for ways to cut those costs. Mr. Ray said about 90 percent of our trash is recyclable in one form or another. The problem is finding someone to take the materials. "No one in the Intermountain West will take glass or plastics for recycling. There is no market. The only people who will buy them are located on either the West Coast or the East Coast," Mr. Ray said. "That means we have to pay them to come get it, and that isn't profitable for MWR." However, recycling plastics and glass may yet prove to be a financial boon to the base. "The survey will tell us if the amount of plastics and glass and paper products currently not collected for recycling justifies collecting them and ship a cost FM who the in economic analyperformed analyst sis. Ms. Forsgren explained if glass could be shipped to California for recycling for $85 per ton and hauling it to the landfill costs $100 per ton, it makes sense to recycle it. But the need to recycle materials goes far beyond the costs involved, according to those involved in the program. "We are concerned about how much it costs to haul and dump the garbage from the base," said EM's Bob Garland, the dumpster survey's project manager. "But in addition to the cost to the base, we are also concerned about the costs to the environment. The more trash we can recycle, the better off Mother Earth will be." "By recycling now, we can avoid future problems now being experienced in places like New York and California, where landfills are overflowing," Mr. Ray said. "We have to take responsibility for our future. Recycling is a big part of that," he said. In the future, Mr. Ray said he would like to see all solid waste generated on base come through the recycling facility where all recyclables can be removed. "That will generate more money for us and cost the base less in dumping and tipping fees," he said. Meanwhile, he said, we need to be more conscientious of what we throw away and recycle everything we can. Annual IToeagi 3500 ump6 vs. Recyclod 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 Currently recycled 500 In 0 Paper Cardboard n Metals Plasti Glass the dumpsters |