America Recycles Day was established to go beyond the blue container to raise awareness of recycling programs and the benefits of participation. SUBASE is committed to responsible waste management, including recycling, and requires all hands on base to participate in local recycling efforts.
"Recycling not only saves energy and conserves materials, but helps the Navy lower landfill and incinerator costs, and helps the environment," said Robert Barner, the SUBASE Site Recycling Specialist.
Blue recycling containers are located in most work spaces, and several large recycling dumpers are located throughout SUBASE making it easy for Sailors to recycle. There are 34 brown dumpsters for paper and cardboard, and 18 blue dumpsters for bottles and cans, making it convenient to dump recyclables.
Besides just recycling, there are other ways to decrease solid waste production on base. The SUBASE Commissary offers reusable cloth tote bags instead of the usual paper or plastic. Available for purchase at a nominal fee, these totes can be used for anything from everyday shopping to errands, from the grocery store to the hardware store.
Sailors seem to be getting the message; in fiscal year 2009 SUBASE recycled 1,236 tons of materials that would have otherwise gotten thrown away. This waste would have contributed to the amount of solid waste generated and disposed in landfills.
"Our goal is to achieve an overall reduction in the amount of solid waste generated and to increase the amount of waste diverted from disposal in landfills. Recycling is a very essential part of reducing solid waste disposal," said Barner.
For more information on SUBASE recycling efforts, or for additional collection containers for your office or workspace, contact Barner at (860) 694-5133 or Scott Mello, SUBASE Integrated Solid Waste Operations Manager at (401) 841-2464. As always, please remember to utilize the blue recycling containers at work, and keep up the efforts at home.
"The key is getting everybody to do the right thing," said Mello.
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