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McGuire energizes recycling program

  • Published
  • By 305th Civil Engineer Squadron
MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. --  Team McGuire currently does an excellent job of recycling. Last year alone, we recycled enough paper and cardboard to save 5,000 trees and enough aluminum from soda cans and scrap metal to save an amount of energy equivalent to 35,000 gallons of gasoline. In addition to saving energy and being good stewards of the environment, the base saved $75,000 in landfill fees and sold the recyclables for $180,000 that went directly back to the base. While these statistics are definitely something to be proud of, they should also serve as inspiration to make an even bigger impact.

In order to have a more efficient and effective program, McGuire has recently awarded a new contract with the Occupational Training Center of Burlington County. This new contract was designed to streamline services by collecting materials from centralized collection points. It also will help increase the profits that the base earns from the sale of recyclables. As part of the effort to better the recycling program, the McGuire Environmental Flight will also be periodically inspecting dumpsters around the base for improperly disposed of recyclables.

"We are going to be looking for trends in improper disposal," said an environmental flight spokesperson. "If we see things like tires, cans, bottles, wood or metals in dumpsters we will contact the facility manager to make sure the building occupants are properly educated. We'll also look at whether or not the recycling containers meet the needs of the organization. But sending recyclable waste to the landfill drives up disposal costs, reduces the money we receive back into the recycling program, and it also takes up landfill space."

The Recycling Center is located at Bldg. 2321 on Radin Road, adjacent to the Hazardous Waste Storage Facility. The staff is available from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The Recycling Center provides recycling containers for use on base at no charge. Any items that contain recyclable materials will be accepted at the Recycling Center, to include scrap metal, scrap wood, office furniture and pallets. If you have any questions about what you can bring to the recycling center, please call the recycling center manager at (609) 754-8293. For housing residents who have questions about recycling, please contact United Communities at (609) 723-4290.