WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii - U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii generates approximately 9,000 tons of solid waste every year. Of that, less than 30 percent is recycled annually. Under Executive Order 13514, federal agencies must divert 50 percent of their total solid waste from landfills, via reuse or recycling, by the end of fiscal year 2015.
The garrison's Qualified Recycling Program has been working to promote awareness and participation in the garrison's recycling program. While recycling participation has increased throughout the garrison, much still needs to be done to reach the 50-percent diversion goal.
Many people view recycling as an inconvenience that isn't worth the effort. Education and awareness are key to changing this mindset. QRP is also working on making recycling easier for Hawaii's Army community.
Working with the Oahu South community director's office, QRPAca,!E+strategically placed six recycling bins for cardboard in various locations on Fort Shafter. To further encourage recycling, these bins replaced a refuse dumpster in each area.
To keep up with growing participation, and better serve the installation's tenants, QRP plans to increase personnel for recycling collection.
Marcus Brundage, QRP manager, and Kim DeCaprio, recycling program specialist, reached out to Army and Air Force Exchange Services' food courts and dining facilities; Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation's child development centers; and other organizations to assist with and promote the recycling of food containers like tins cans and plastic containers, which are currently being diverted from the landfills.
To support these important efforts, additional recycling bins are being strategically placed throughout the garrison in an ongoing process, as recycling is made easier and more participants understand its benefits.
QRP constantly monitors the recycling commodities market. This monitoring includes price changes and new market areas for additional materials the garrison can recycle.
The recycling commodities market in Hawaii presents challenges that differ from other Army installations. Most of the recyclable material collected in Hawaii must be shipped to processors and manufacturers on the mainland or overseas. The cost of shipping, compared to the value of the recyclable commodities, limits the types of commodities that local recyclers will accept.
To help, improvements are being made to the garrison's Army Recycling Center to better suit the collection and storage of recyclable materials. These improvements, and the future purchase of a baler, will increase the QRP's capacity for recyclable materials, and help make them more valuable in the recyclables commodities market.
Army Recycling Center
The garrison's Army Recycling Center accepts a number of items, including:
Aca,!AcDry cardboard
Aca,!AcNewspaper
Aca,!AcMagazines
Aca,!AcGlossy paper
Aca,!AcPhone books
Aca,!AcWhite office paper including shredded paper ("spaghetti" cut only)
Aca,!AcToner cartridges
Aca,!AcScrap metal (uncontaminated)
Aca,!AcHI-5 glass, plastic and aluminum beverage containers
Aca,!AcWood pallets (no metal; clean, untreated and not painted)
Aca,!AcAir conditioning units (must be certified purged and tagged)
Aca,!AcGreen waste (limited quantities only)
Aca,!AcFor oil, batteries or old electronic equipment, call 656-6411
For a full listing of acceptable items and restrictions, visit <a href="http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/sites/recycling/recycling.asp">www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/sites/recycling/recycling.asp</a>.
To request a pick-up for a unit or office building, call 808-655-0011, or fill out a request at <a href="https://dpwhawaii.army.mil/pickup/">https://dpwhawaii.army.mil/pickup/</a> .
America Recycles Day is scheduled for Nov. 15. For scheduled events or more information, visit <a href="http://www.americarecyclesday.org">www.americarecyclesday.org</a>.
Locally, the garrison's Quality Recycling Program will host an event at Kaena Community Center, Schofield Barracks. Installation tenants and housing residents are invited to drop off their recyclable materials at the center. Additional details on the event will be published in the Hawaii Army Weekly and online in the community calendar at <a href="http://www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/">www.garrison.hawaii.army.mil/</a>.
(EditorAca,!a,,cs Note: This article appeared in the Hawaii Army WeeklyAca,!a,,cs Oct. 22 special insert on sustainability. Click <a href="http://www.hawaiiarmyweekly.com/special-inserts/">here</a> to view the entire 8-page feature.)
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