ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. - From the traditional recyclable materials of cardboard, paper, plastic and glass to scrap materials like wood and metal and even some non-traditional items like old overalls, furniture and even oil, much of the depotAca,!a,,cs waste can be repurposed, reused or recycled into something new.
Aca,!A"Recycling is a big part of this depot,Aca,!A? said Earl Montgomery, leader of the Green Team, a group of about 10 people in the Directorate of Community and Family Activities activated two weeks ago to identify recycling needs.
The Green Team is working its way, building by building, around the installation making it easier for employees to recycle.
Aca,!A"If no one ever threw anything away, we would like that,Aca,!A? said Jim Webb, director of DCFA for the depot. Aca,!A"We want everyone to think recycle. If they get into the habit here, hopefully theyAca,!a,,cll do it at home as well.Aca,!A?
The team recently helped with an area outside Bldg. 132. Piles of trash were collecting near the building following the Component Repair BranchAca,!a,,cs recent move into the facility. The Green Team helped employees clear the waste and found ways to make recycling easier.
Aca,!A"Our cardboard was getting mixed in with the trash, so they gave us a cardboard drop-off bin and are working to get us a place to put scrap wood for recycling as well,Aca,!A? said Barry Alverson, supervisor for the Component Repair Branch.
All the recyclable waste collected goes to the Recycling Center where it is sorted, bundled and sold to vendors.
Aca,!A"It is good business. We want to conserve energy, save our planet and run a good business,Aca,!A? said Webb.
Recycling drop-off locations are located on both sides of the depot and a new processing facility at the Recycling Center quickly bundles paper and cardboard.
Aca,!A"ItAca,!a,,cs an expensive facility, but it will pay for itself,Aca,!A? said LaNoah Ealy, business manager for the Recycling Center, of the $750,000 processing building and the approximately $1 million bundling equipment.
In addition to gathering recyclables from the various organizations on the depot, the center also makes sure renovations on the installation involve recycling as well.
Aca,!A"If it can be recovered or recycled, regardless of what it is, we run it through here,Aca,!A? said Richard Brimer, waste disposal manager for the directorate of risk management, adding demolition waste for the new small arms facility being built on the west side of the depot is 100 percent recycled to date.
The Recycling Center opened in 1982 and has grown tremendously over the years both in number of employees as well as the amount of material they handle.
Aca,!A"Back in the early days, we took in about $1,000,Aca,!A? said Brimer. Aca,!A"In fiscal year 2008, we took in $8 million.Aca,!A?
In fiscal year 2008, center employees bundled and sold 133,820 pounds of mixed paper, but that is a drop in the bucket for the recycling program. From October 2007 through September 2008, the depot recycled:
Aca,!Ac 1,082,240 pounds of cardboard
Aca,!Ac 23,660 pounds of spent bullets
Aca,!Ac 148,032 gallons of oil
Aca,!Ac 5,682,170 pounds of wood
Aca,!Ac Metal recycling tops several million pounds each year in heavy and light scrap, aluminum, wiring harnesses and copper.
The center is open each weekend for bargain hunters who want wood chips to use in landscaping or old furnishings to use in their home office, but Webb encourages depot employees to drop by and look through the yard during the week.
Aca,!A"Whenever the center is open, depot employees can purchase items,Aca,!A? said Webb.
For more information about the Recycling Center call Ext. 6838.
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