FORT STEWART, Ga., Aug. 5, 2011 -- Marne Soldiers from the Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield communities were “Caught Doing Something Good” at their homes, July 21. The Directorate of Public Works’ recycling personnel visited Soldiers whose blue poly cart or recycle bin has been occupied with recyclables.
The “Caught Doing Something Good” campaign begins this month. Recycling specialists from areas like Stewart’s DPW’s Environmental Division visit residents in the Balfour Beatty communities, catching Soldiers and family members at the moment of “doing something good” such as recycling. Following the moment of surprise, a photo is taken of the Soldier to be recognized for recycling. Because the campaign is new to the Marne Division, different award methods are still being determined.
Soldiers like Sgt. Kyle Redding, Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, Sgt. Joshua Ramsey, 526th Engineers Company, 92nd Engineers Battalion, and Spc. Cesar Echevarria, 4/3 Aviation, were all “Caught Doing Something Good” relating to their blue poly cart.
Their poly carts carried cardboard boxes, soda cases and plastics. They were examples of residents who recycle items correctly.
“If they are caught recycling items correctly,” said Amanda Hinesley, DPW Environmental Division, public relations specialist, “they could be awarded.”
Who would have known that recyclables could be recycled incorrectly? If recyclable items are exposed to products like cooking oil, the recyclable item is considered contaminated and may be damaged.
“Cooking grease often contaminates recyclables,” said Ronald King, Stewart-Hunter Environmental Division recycle program manager. “Because a plastic jug or glass jug is a recyclable item, those who want to recycle the jug, with the grease in it, want to put it in the recyclable container. Thus, when the grease jug is deposited in our compact truck and it starts pressing it, the jug bursts. The grease gets all over paper, glass and different items like cardboard boxes. Those items then become un-usable.”
Patrons are advised not to rid cooking oil down the sink or water drainage systems. Instead, cooking oil should be stored in a plastic or glass container then placed in the garbage bin, said King.
Another hindrance to recycling items is when recyclables are placed in brown bags or bags that immolate trash bags.
“In our attempts to reduce contamination, which is one of our biggest problems that we have with collecting recyclables,” said King, “products that are put in the recycling container that don’t serve a purpose, depending on the type of material, may actually damage other recyclable material. The main culprit for some of that contamination is that there are brown bags that people use for their trash and recyclables.”
King explains the difference between using brown bags and clear bags when recycling.
“Brown bags are sometimes put in the wrong dumpster,” he said. “[For example], trash is placed in the recycle container. When that is compacted in the truck, whatever that contamination is, it actually spreads to the other [recyclable] products. With a clear bag, we can tell this is a bag of recyclables. It can be deposited in the recycling container. It also allows the person who is collecting it to make a judgment right there on the spot.”
With all this in mind, and, if you live in any of the Balfour Beatty communities, smile because you might be the next “Caught Doing Something Good” honoree, the new approach to recycling.
For more information about recycling, call 912-767-8880 or visit www.stewart.army.mil/dpw/EN_Recycling0Station.asp.
The Balfour Beatty communities include housing from the Stewart-Hunter area. Stewart’s housing includes Coastal Ridge, Isenhower Village, Isenhower Terrace, Liberty Woods, North and South Bryans Villages, Marne Homes, Marne Court, Southern Oaks and New Marne. Hunter’s housing includes New Gannam, Wilson Acres, New Callaway and New Savannah.
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