America Recycles Day: It all comes back to you

  • Published
  • By Shane Reed
  • 14th CES Environmental Flight
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  November 15 is designated as America Recycles Day. The purpose of America Recycles Day is to continue to promote the social, environmental, and economic benefits of recycling and encourage more people to join the movement toward creating a better natural environment. Celebrating its 13th year, it has grown to include millions of Americans pledging to increase their recycling habits at home and work and to buy products made with recycled materials.

It is estimated that the average American discards 4.6 pounds of garbage every day, including recyclable materials such as aluminum, cardboard, plastic, and glass bottles. In 2001, Columbus AFB implemented a mandatory recycling policy. The Columbus AFB facility recycles everything from mixed paper (white, colored, phone books, magazines, and note pads), steel/ aluminum cans, glass, plastic bottles (#1 and #2), cardboard, toner cartridges, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and yard waste. To date, we have successfully recycled over 19,500 tons.

It's not only about recycling; purchasing "green" products also helps preserve our natural resources. Federal agencies are directed by federal laws, regulations, and executive orders to make purchasing decisions with the environment in mind. In 1993, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency created the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Program to help federal officials meet these requirements.
Environmentally preferable means "products or services that have a lesser or reduced effect on human health and the environment when compared with competing products that serve the same purpose."

The Air Force describes this as "Green Procurement", and Columbus AFB has implemented a very rigorous green procurement program. The base service store, One Store Solutions, was renovated with recycled-content carpet and stocks over 100 recycled-content products for purchase with the Government Purchase Card. Stop by One Store Solutions for a first-hand look at the recycled content products.