TOP STORY>>Serving the Environment

By Airman 1st Class Scott Poe
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

As Airmen, we serve our country, but we also serve our environment. At Little Rock Air Force Base, one of the ways we do that is by recycling.

Recycling has many advantages. One of those advantages is minimizing the amount of waste we keep from filling up landfills.

Another advantage is the money we make through recycling initiatives.

“Last year we made $250,000, which goes back into the funds for the base,” said Wally Garron, the Little Rock AFB Recycling Center warehouse manager. “We get most of the money from recycling metals and paper. We recycled 1,940,120 pounds of material in 2013 from the base.”

There are many recyclable products, including aluminum, paper, cardboard, batteries, metal, plastics and more. It saves the staff at the recycling center time when the items are already sorted including paper. Paper consists of three categories. Newspaper is one category and also the most popular; additionally there is color paper and black and white paper.

Every squadron has recycle bins, but there are also recycle areas that can be used behind the Airman and Family Readiness Center, in front of building 940 (the old BX) and also at the recycling center located at building 1568.

Every Airman should do his or her part in helping the environment by properly disposing of items that can be reused or recycled,” said Garron.

According to Air Force Instruction 32-7080, Pollution Prevention Program, 12 May, 1994, installations are required to recycle multiple materials such as metals, glass, plastic and used oil, lead acid batteries and tires.

The Little Rock AFB Recycling Center is open Monday – Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you have any questions regarding recycling, call (501) 987-6611.