Recycling saves installation millions annually

By CourtesyJune 27, 2019

Recycling saves installation millions annually
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Story and photos by Takia Murray, Frontline Staff

$2.6 million - that is how much money recycling saves Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield.

Recycling is one of the cost saving measures the installation uses to help reduce cost and extend the lifecycle of the installation landfill.

Last year, Stewart-Hunter residents recycled 2 million lbs. of cardboard, 1 million lbs. of scrap metal, 440,000 lbs. of paper, 88,000 lbs. of plastic and 54,000 lbs. of glass. That's 3.5 million lbs. of rubbish that was diverted from landfills to recycling centers, which can be packaged and sold for industrial use.

Stewart-Hunter Recycling program tries to divert 50% of collected recyclables. Last year, the installation diverted 59%!

So, let's keep it up! Blue recycling dumpsters are located in various locations throughout the installation.

Johnny Davis, Qualified Recycling Program Manager at the installation's Directorate of Public Works said recycling is important. But precautions need to be taken.

"You need to be careful about what you put in your dumpsters," Davis said, adding the workers have to hand pick through the recyclables.

You can also take your recycling to the 24-hour convenience centers. Stewart center is located off McFarland Ave. The Hunter Recycling center is behind the AAFES Exchange.

What to recycle

Items you can bag-up and drop in the recycling bins.

Paper Items such as junk mail, newspapers, and magazines. (These can go in a bag by themselves.)

Glass such as bottles

Cans (food or beverage cans)

All plastic, jugs, grocery bags, shrink wrap, and dinnerware (cups, plates, utensils).

All Styrofoam such as egg cartons and cups

Cardboard boxes such as shoe boxes and food boxes. (Break these down to flatten.)

Items that need to go to the scrap metal yard (Italy Street on Stewart, Westley Street on Hunter Army Airfield, open 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Ink cartridges

Computers

Printers

Keyboards

Telephones

*No government equipment

If you ever have questions, or would like to tour the facilities, call 767-8880 or stop by the DPW Recycling Center, off Veterans Parkway Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on how to recycle, visit the Recycling Program web-page at home.army.mil/stewart/index.php/recycle.