Grissom fights future wars by recycling today

Published Nov. 17, 2014
By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Wars of tomorrow are often decided by decisions made in the present, and with that in mind, Grissom is focused on an enduring solution to be ready for those future fights - one crushed can at a time.

Last year alone, Grissom recycled 420 tons of material as part of its recycling program, said Cory Walters, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron biological scientist who manages the program.

To put that number in perspective, 420 tons equates to 51 dumpsters per week that were kept out of landfills, giving Grissom a positive diversion rate as the base sent more to be recycled than to landfills.

And that, Walters said, not only preserves the environment, but ensures mission capability for the future.

"It really is about supporting the mission as recycling reduces our environmental impact, which means we're spending less money on fixing contaminated soil or paying for solid waste to be removed," he continued.

Through its recycling efforts, Grissom brought in nearly $30,000 last year, which helped finance the program.

"We're saving the environment and saving money, because I'm not asking for appropriated money to purchase bins, parts or supplies," explained Walters. "That allows that money to be used on training reservists, or even in the big picture, procuring new technologies and weapon systems."

Recycling also creates a safer environment for Grissom's Air Force, Army and Marine Corps reservists to prepare for combat.

"We're minimizing the impact of water pollution, air pollution, or whatever you considered unwanted consequences from a landfill, which provides us a better place to live, work and train," said Walters.

While the biological scientist manages the program, Walters said its champion is Dan Miller, 434th CES general services and support worker, who is the person out in the field daily gathering, tearing down and sorting recyclables.

While mission preservation is important to Miller, he said he focuses on a more personal aspect while sifting through discarded cans, bottles and waste each day.

"It's not a glamorous job; it's a thankless job," Miller elaborated. "But, recycling just makes sense to me, so I think about my little grandkids and how I'm helping them out by keeping all this stuff out of the landfills."

What exactly was kept out of landfills last year thanks to Miller were 581 pounds of alkaline batteries, 4,292 pounds of lead-acid batteries, 72,100 pounds of scrap metal, 5,433 pounds of used tires, 650,000 pounds of wood, 1,400 pounds of used cooking grease, 1,618 pounds of toner cartridges, 58,050 pounds of paper and 47,474 pounds of miscellaneous items.

"What I really like about our program is that our recycling team is customer oriented and will do whatever they can to help you recycle," said Col. Doug Schwartz, 434th Air Refueling Wing commander. "If it can be recycled, they will find a way to recycle it, which is why these very dedicated individuals are just another reason we're a world-class organization."

While Miller and Walters may be at the tip of the spear in fighting to preserve Grissom's environment, they both said it's a team effort that wins the war on waste.

"I run that program, but it's dependent on how everybody else contributes," said Walters. "We're one big family, so if each member of the family contributes, it makes it that much easier to make a big difference."

To help team Grissom make that difference, recycling program earnings were recently used to buy 28 new large bins already in place around the base.

"The biggest impact there is in billeting, where each of the common areas will have a bin in it," said Walters, who isn't stopping there in an effort to make recycling more convenient.

"My goal is to get a recycling bin at every desk, so everyone has the option to make the right choice," he said. "If you don't have a bin at your desk, come get one from us."

On top of taking the time to recycle, Miller also said Grissom Airmen can make a better difference by paying more attention to detail when it comes to their recyclables.

"People need to make sure they put things in the right bin," he said.

"Don't put items in recycling that shouldn't be in there," agreed Walters. "If you don't want to handle it after a week, we probably don't want to handle it, either."

In the end, Walters said his main message is simple - recycle.

"Please, take the time to find a recycle bin, because every little bit counts," he concluded.

Grissom is home to the 434th Air Refueling Wing, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, as well as three Army Reserve units. Airmen, Soldiers and Marines routinely deploy from Grissom around the world in support of the Department of Defense mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

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Grissom fights future wars by recycling today

Public Affairs Staff