Team McConnell can make a difference

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt Jessica Brown
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Nearly forty years after the nation's recycling movement began, McConnell continues to find innovative ways to reuse, reduce and recycle.

This year, Air Force officials want to emphasize the many ways installations can prevent waste and reduce operational expenses.

Air Force wide, installations are taking aggressive strides to meet this challenge, and McConnell is one of them.

In October 2011, McConnell's recycling manager, Tina Seemayer, 22nd Air Refueling Wing environmental engineer, performed a study on base and found that 40 percent of "trash" in base garbage bins was actually recyclable materials.

"We want to divert more waste away from the landfills so that it can be appropriately recycled," said Seemayer.

The rate at which waste is diverted away from landfills and recycled, reused or composted is called a diversion rate.

According to McConnell's recycling guide, McConnell disposes four tons of waste a day, with operational costs exceeding approximately $7,500 a month.

With new efforts, McConnell could successfully recycle almost 56 tons a month.

"McConnell is currently on track to reach a diversion rate of 44 percent by 2015," said Seemayer. "Ultimately, our goal is to increase to 65 percent by 2020."

There will be a few changes around base to help Team McConnell reach this goal.

The biggest change will be the new single-stream recycling system, which means that service members will not have to separate their recyclables. The recyclables in these bins will be separated at the receiving source.

Another notable change will be the number of recycling bins around base, which will almost double in the months to come. These new green bins will be centrally located in areas like the Exchange parking lot and Robert J. Dole Community Center parking lot.

"We'll go from having about 20 recycling bins to about 45," said Seemayer. "One day you'll go to throw away your garbage, and you may find a recycling bin as well."

Out of the 130 large garbage bins currently on base, only 80 will actually be dedicated to garbage and the remaining will be for recycling.

Team McConnell can donate goods to be recycled or reused to several places on base, to include Building 1096, the thrift store, loan closet, library and the Airman's Attic.

Rather than throw out wood products, scrap metals, toner and printer cartridges, batteries, and light bulbs, these items can donated to Building 1096, where they will be recycled. Even if the product has expired, items can be dropped off and picked up as long as it is in good condition.

Air Force officials emphasize there is always more that can be done, and it takes a concerted effort from all members of the team, and Seemayer agrees.

"This isn't a one person job," said Seemayer about recycling efforts. "This is our community. This is our diversion rate. This is our goal. Team McConnell is 5,000 people strong and if we all help out, we can do this."