Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose to Save Money and Sustain the Environment

By Ms Deborah Sollosi (Secretary of the Army)May 11, 2012

Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose to Save Money and Sustain the Environment
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Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose to Save Money and Sustain the Environment
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Logistics Services Washington's (LSW) Property Reutilization Program recycles excess used and surplus new furniture and equipment in the Army and DoD, saving the Federal Government millions of dollars a year, and providing agencies much-needed supplies in a time of dwindling budgets.

The Reutilization Program operates two warehouses--on Fort Belvoir and in Springfield, Virginia--loaded with more than a thousand pieces of furniture and equipment, most of it in excellent condition, some of it never before used. Inventory is not limited to office furniture but includes copiers, projectors, and fax machines, as well as desk top computers, laptops, monitors, computer accessories, and more.

Items no longer serviceable are broken down for recycling as scrap metal and wood.

While its original purpose was to save money, the Reutilization Program also supports the Army's sustainability initiative and "Net Zero" goals (zero waste ending up in landfills).

"We must promote recycling, repurposing, recovering, and reusing," states the Army 2012 Earth Day message signed by Secretary of the Army John M. McHugh, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III.

"This Earth Day--and every day--we have an opportunity to make a difference," the message continues. The Reutilization Program gives users the opportunity to support the Army's sustainability initiative every day of the year.

LSW picks up excess furniture and supplies within the National Capital Region (NCR), which are available for reuse to DoD and Army agencies. A new, specialized service provided by LSW allows customers to schedule the delivery of the furniture and equipment to their home stations for a fee, or the customer can pick it up themselves, as an Army customer from Fort Bragg did recently, loading up three trucks with furniture from the warehouses and driving back to North Carolina.

Users of the program are enthusiastic. Says one satisfied customer, "We use LSW [reutilized property] as a standard when we need any item in this building at [Fort] McNair...Proof is my entire office is used LSW furniture--soup to nuts!"

Information on the LSW Property Reutilization Program is available to CAC users at https://secureapp2.hqda.pentagon.mil/dolfurniture/ReUtilHome.aspx?Token=E26339B2-4689-4FC6-9E92-678BEFEB8FCD

Logistics Services Washington is a directorate of the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army.