U.S. Army Garrison - Detroit Arsenal, Mich. -- The U.S. Army Garrison -- Detroit Arsenal recently received its 4th State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality 2011 Neighborhood Environmental Partners Program Award for their outstanding commitment to environmental community outreach.

The NEP Program was developed by MDEQ to recognize organizations and their community partners who have worked together on environmental and natural resource projects to improve the environment locally in their communities.

"It takes a significant amount of effort, education and partnering with the community to continue to get this award year after year," said Alan Parks, garrison manager. "Florence Trevino and the rest of our environmental team along with all those on the installation who participate in our recycling and environmental programs deserve a lot of credit for our consistent performance in this area."

The award doesn't only look at what the Detroit Arsenal has done but if also looks at how the installation has partnered with the community.

"We hosted an Earth Day event and had representatives from many off installation organizations including Arts and Scraps, General Motors, Macomb County Habitat for Humanity, Macomb County Health department, Trader Joe's and Unlimited recycling," said Florence Trevino, environmental protection specialist. "Our personal computer recycling drives alone have diverted more than 21 tons from landfills since its inception in 2005."

The award also recognizes the garrison's efforts in instituting several collection and donation programs. The garrison has collected and donated more than 2,300 pairs of glasses and 20 hearing aids with the help of the local area Lions Club. The garrison also collected and recycled more than 2,500 cell phones with the proceeds going to the child development center. The arsenal also donated unused office materials and equipment to area schools and nonprofit organizations.

The Detroit Arsenal Mass Transit Benefit Program contributes significantly to the reduction of harmful exhaust fumes and also reduces the amount of fuel used with more than 135 vans and more than 935 participants in the program.

"The goal of the NEP Program is to competitively award businesses and communities who together commit the time and resources necessary to achieve environmental excellence in their communities," said Dan White, director of the State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. "(This award) reinforces many of the strong relationships and creative projects you have already implemented that improve the environment and quality of life within your communities."