Recycling made easier Published Oct. 12, 2006 By Ed Drohan 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Recycling solid waste is not only mandated by the Air Force, but it is a smart way to do business while helping preserve the environment. And now it's easier than ever to recycle at Pope, thanks to a new Centralized Recycling Point that's just been established on base. The new recycling point -- actually a large wheeled trailer with separate bins for different types of recyclable materials -- is located off Armistead Street across from the Wood Hobby Shop and the Auto Skills Center. Recyclables accepted at this time include cardboard, aluminum cans, plastics, newspapers and magazines. This trailer does not replace the current recycling program at Pope, said Garland Evans, 43rd Civil Engineer Squadron environmental flight. Instead, it simply adds another avenue people can use to recycle products rather than sending them to landfills that, in many cases, are already filled to the brim. Regular pickup of recyclables in Military Family Housing as well as at other base facilities will continue as it has in the past. "Currently we recycle about 30 percent of the waste generated at Pope," Mr. Evans said. "Our goal is to increase that rate by 1 percent each quarter." Adding the trailer to the recycling program offers several benefits, Mr. Evans said. First, it offers a centralized recycling point that everybody on base can use. Also, people who live off-base, whether military, civilian employees or retirees, can bring their recyclable materials to the new centralized point, giving everybody a chance to participate in the program. Another benefit is that the trailer is portable and can be moved to other areas of the base when there are special functions taking place. "For instance, if a unit is having a function at Pope Park, we can move the trailer there to encourage everybody to recycle their waste," Mr. Evans said. The same contractor who handles recycling pickups on base now will also be responsible for emptying the new trailer on a regular basis, Mr. Evans said. The base does receive money based on the amount of materials the contractor sells to be recycled, so the more he sells, the more the base makes. Mr. Evans asked that people not place recyclables in the trailer if they have been contaminated with food, and that people place their recyclables in the proper bin. Other than that, "...when it comes to recycling, every little bit helps." For more information on the base recycling program, please call Mr. Evans at 394-1635, or Rita Greeson at 394-2824.