November 15th: America Recycles Day!

Photo By Laurie Pearson | Recyclable steel awaits pick-up during a clean-up event at building 404 and Railway Operations aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Calif., Nov. 3. (Photo Courtesy of Environmental Division).  

BARSTOW, CA, UNITED STATES

11.09.2016

Story by Laurie Pearson  

Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow

To celebrate America Recycles Day, the Environmental Division is hosting a special E-Recycling event at building 225, aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow, Nov. 15.
Base Order 4160.1A signed in 2005 initiated a recycling program on base. In bins were placed around the base, including the Yermo Annex, and the program gained momentum. Since that time, hundreds of metric tons of recyclable materials have been collected and disposed of in a conscientious manner, bringing revenue to the Qualified Recycle Program and diverting solid waste from the landfill.
“The primary purpose of the QRP is to reduce landfill costs and other disposable costs,” explained Scott Figueroa, QRP assistant. “We use the term Diversion Rate, which means (we) are diverting things away from the landfill and taking it to other places where it can be recycled. You’re also generating cost back to the command. Right now we are at about 87 percent Diversion Rate.”
“It is a diversion of solid waste,” clarified James Fejeran, Environmental Compliance Branch chief. “Solid waste moved from landfills to recycling.”
“You’re required to divert at least 50 percent from the landfill,” said Arley Lessard, NEPA Program manager, citing federal regulations. “There’s a new initiative out (in which the state of California) wants to increase that requirement to 75 percent by (the year) 2020. We are already above and beyond that at 87 (percent).”
“This base has maintained at least a 70 percent diversion rate over the past five years, averaging 78 percent,” said Maj. Stacey Colon, deputy director of Environmental Division.
Recyclable materials are weighed at the landfill or recycling facility to determine how much waste the installation is diverting.
“We get tickets from the landfill which show the weight and cost associated with it, and then we also get tickets from the recyclables,” Lessard said.
Not all of the recyclables generate money for the base, such as “co-mingled” recyclables, explained Kristal Ford, currently detailed as the QRP manager. “Cardboard (and scrap metal) we get money for, and we do that two to three times per week.”
As for the co-mingled recyclables, such as glass and plastic bottles, aluminum cans and so forth, there isn’t enough manpower on base to separate and submit the recyclables for money, explained Ford. Instead, they are turned in with other co-mingled material to Burrtec, where at the end of each month we either pay a fee or on the rare occasion we will get a check.
“This is why we came up with a plan to (partner) with Fort Irwin,” said Figueroa. “They do have the manpower and they do have the facilities to do it. It would keep the money within the government.”
If the merger is a success, then Fort Irwin would obtain and recycle the co-mingled recyclables, keeping the funds within the federal government. MCLB Barstow would not gain proceeds from those recycles in this case, but would at least avoid the fees while still contributing to diversion from the landfill.
Other initiatives on base recently were clean-up projects at building 404 and Railhead Operations on MCLBB’s Yermo Annex. More than 37,200 pounds (18.6 tons) of recyclable material, such as steel, was diverted from building 404, earning $1,844.42. The Railhead Operations clean-up project diverted 225,550 pounds (113 tons) of recyclable steel, earning $4,418.83.
Marine Depot Maintenance Command, housed on MCLBB’s Yermo annex also produces a large amount of recyclable material, from cardboard to batteries.
“Diesel fuel is drained from equipment before they work on it or store it,” said Melvin Bracey, Hazardous Waste Program manager. “Same with oil.”
Colon explained that this is even the case with used cooking oil from the Family Restaurant on base.
“That oil goes to a local pig farmer,” Bracey said.
For the recyclables which do produce income, there is a board lead by Lt. Col. Kenneth Lee, the base executive officer, which meets and decides where those funds are to be used.
“(Some of) the funds pay for the QRP manager and it also pays right now for the laborer,” said Ford.
Funds are also used to assist the Single Marine Program, as well as the Marine Corps Ball, to help enhance the lives of Marines and their families aboard base. SMP trips to San Francisco and Red Rock Canyon National Preserve are some of the recent activities partially funded by the QRP, and new tools for the Hobby Shop will be procured using QRP funds, as well.
America Recycles Day held on Nov.15, is a national initiative to keep America beautiful. To coincide with this, the QRP team is holding an E-Waste Day. Military personnel, their families and civilians on base are invited to turn in their e-waste, such as computers, electronics and old cellular phones at building 225, where it will be disposed of appropriately. This event will help reduce clutter and unwanted items for the individuals and families on base.
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• Date Taken: 11.09.2016
• Date Posted: 11.10.2016 17:35
• Story ID: 214409
• Location: BARSTOW, CA, US