Recycle today, make changes for lifetimes to come

  • Published
  • By Debbie Aragon
  • 55th Wing Public Affairs
OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. --  America Recycles Day, Nov. 15, is just that -- one day. However, organizers of the annual celebration hope raising awareness on that one day is enough to let people know the many benefits of recycling so it becomes a part of their daily routine. 

A decade ago, the National Recycling Coalition established the celebration to encourage Americans to reduce the amount of trash entering landfills by advocating recycling and the purchase of recycled products. 

"Recycling saves our natural resources, including trees, petroleum oil, metal and landfill space," according to Joan Bowen, 55th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Flight. "It reduces pollution by reducing the amount of contaminants going into the air, water and soil, and saves a lot of energy." 

When it comes to recycled products, Ms. Bowen said it takes much less energy to make a product out of an existing product than if it were to be processed using virgin materials.
"Recycled aluminum saves 95 percent of the energy it would take to produce virgin aluminum," she said. "Recycling of one aluminum can saves enough energy to run your television set for three hours ... recycled aluminum also reduces pollution by 95 percent." 

The cost and environmental savings are almost as grand with recycled paper - 60 percent less energy used to produce and 95 percent less air pollution, Ms. Bowen added. 

"Using virgin resources in manufacturing products is very energy intensive, and to throw the product away after one use is, well, wasteful," said Steve Andrews, executive director of the Nebraska State Recycling Association in Omaha. "Energy independence will only be possible when we review and adjust the consumption across the board.
"Recycling is an easy way to participate in moving towards a more sustainable and clean future," he said. 

There are many easy ways people can incorporate recycling into their daily lives, Ms. Bowen said. 

"Some things like taking your used plastic bags to the store for recycling are very easy to do," Ms. Bowen said. "Some suppliers of toner cartridges have exchange programs where used printer toner cartridges are mailed back to the company for them to refurbish or recycle." 

In Nebraska, officials hoped to meet a 40 percent recycling goal by 2005, said Mr. Andrews. The state has been unable to reach that goal. 

"There are several factors that come into play when talking about recycling and waste disposal," Mr. Andrews said, "... low tipping fees at landfills, lack of awareness and lack of incentive or disincentive." 

Mr. Andrews collects data statewide and said there's a 15 - 25 percent participation rate with approximately 20 percent of waste generated actually recycled. 

The most important step for people is to identify where they can recycle - either curbside or drop off, what can be recycled and establishing a system for collecting the material in their homes or businesses, he said. 

At Offutt, base members are required to recycle paper, cardboard, used oil, oil filters, tires and lead acid batteries, according to Ms. Bowen. 

Rolling paper recycling bins, similar to regular trash containers, can be seen at about 40 different locations around Offutt and large, tan containers for card board dot the base landscape as well. 

As for base residents and those living in the local community, recycling is highly encouraged, according to Mr. Andrews. 

"Most of your paper items such as cardboard, newspapers, magazines, office paper and junk mail, can be recycled," he said, "also 1 pop and 2 milk plastics ... (items labeled) 3 - 7 plastics have limited markets." 

The staff at Offutt's Air Force Repair Enhancement Program, located in Bldg. 457, can help with base recycling efforts too by assisting units reuse and refurbish materials. 

"They can repair equipment such as typewriters, shredders, fax machines and most electromechanical office equipment," Ms. Bowen said. The staff can also refurbish HP printer toner cartridges. For more information about the Repair Enhancement Program, call 294-4087. 

More information about recycling in Nebraska is available at www.recyclenebraska.org. 





Why it's important to recycle

Why recycling is important 

As stewards of the environment, every person is responsible for preserving and protecting resources for ourselves and for future generations.

Back to basics 

Recycling is really just common sense, and until the "modern era," it was a common household activity. Before the 1920s, 70% of U.S. cities ran programs to recycle certain materials. During World War II, industry recycled and reused about 25% of the waste stream. Because of concern for the environment, recycling is again on the upswing. The nation's composting and recycling rate rose from 7.7% of the waste stream in 1960 to 17% in 1990. It's currently up to around 33%.

Garbage crisis
The world has changed a lot in the past century. From individually packaged food servings to disposable diapers, more garbage is generated now than ever before. The average American discards 4.6 pounds of garbage every day. This garbage, the solid waste stream, goes mostly to landfills, where it's compacted and buried. As the waste stream continues to grow so will the pressure on landfills, resources and the environment.

Part of the solution
Recycling is one of the easiest ways you can help slow climate change and global warming. By recycling at home, you help significantly lower carbon emissions associated with extracting virgin materials, manufacturing products and waste disposal. 

Last year the amount of energy saved from recycling aluminum and steel cans, plastic PET and glass containers, newsprint and corrugated packaging was equivalent to:

· The amount of electricity consumed by 17.8 million Americans in one year. 

· 29 percent of nuclear electricity generation in the U.S. in one year. 

· 7.9 percent of electricity generation from fossil fuels in the U.S. in one year. 

· 11 percent of the energy produced by coal-fired power plants in the U.S. 

· The energy supplied from 2.7 percent of imported barrels of crude oil into the U.S. 

· The amount of gasoline used in almost 11 million passenger automobiles in one year. 

(Information courtesy of the National Recycling Coalition)