JBLE highlights recycling importance, efforts

“I can’t do this.”

These are the words that Donald Johnson, 733rd Civil Engineer Division Environmental Protection specialist, hears when people speak of doing their part to help the environment.

“Oh yes they can,” said Johnson.

While taking care of the environment is everyone’s responsibility at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, the stewards of protecting the areas surrounding Langley Air Force Base and Fort Eustis are the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron and 733rd CED.  Both teams strive to make new improvements to keep the installations environmentally friendly, and they also educate people on how to help.

Fort Eustis efforts

According to Jim McKown, 733rd CED Compliance Branch chief, keeping waste out of the water surrounding JBLE is one of their biggest priorities.

Keeping trash out of landfills and the water is simpler if there is less trash.  Reducing, reusing, and recycling is key to preventing this, said McKown.

According to Johnson, Fort Eustis makes it easy for personnel on base to contribute to the recycling efforts.

“We do have a recycle center on our installation,” said Donna C. Haynes, 733rd CED Environmental Programs assistant.  “Each building on the installation has recycling bins in the office.  We put paper, plastic, aluminum cans and anything recyclable in the bins and we pick it up from them once a week.”

According to Johnson, the recycled items at Eustis generate revenue as everything that is tossed into recycling is sold to a vendor.  The revenue is put into the Qualified Recycle Program account, which is used to first pay part of the contract cost to run the recycle center.  The remainder is used to buy new equipment and to implement new pollution prevention programs.

While revenue made at Eustis is a huge help for their post, at Langley, the service members and environmental equipment are the biggest assets to environmental stewardship.

Langley AFB efforts

Recycling practices are also incorporated into standard operating procedures at Langley AFB.  All shops that work with fuel or other hazardous materials are equipped with spill kits.  Although every precaution is taken to prevent spills, when they happen, units have specialized absorbent materials on hand to quickly clean them up.  The absorbent materials are then sent to a local waste-to-energy facility where they can be burned to produce energy.  Booms and materials deployed in the water that capture runoff are also sent there for energy production once they reach their usable service life.  Langley AFB burns 25,000 pounds of absorbent material a year in this way. 

According to Ken Dunn, 633rd CES Hazardous Waste Program Manager, Langley also has all of its universal waste recycled.  All mercury lamps and batteries are sent off base for recycling.  Every unit has a collection area.  These items can also be turned into the hazardous waste central accumulation point after contacting them at 633.ces.haz@us.af.mil.  Langley recycles approximately 5,400 pounds of universal waste a year this way.

According to both Dawn and Ronnie Best, 633 CES Tank Program manager, there are a few ways that service members can help protect the local environment:

• Volunteering around the base and local community in environmental efforts such as Earth Week which will be 23-27 April at both Langley and Eustis or Clean the Bay Day, held the first Saturday in June of every year.

• Avoid spills in daily operations and if one occurs, take action so they are contained and cleaned up in a quick manner.

• Make sure to use the correct bins when recycling or disposing of any trash.  Think about what’s put in the trash before discarding it.  If it’s recyclable, recycle it.

• Don’t dump hazardous waste into the dumpsters.  If you have paint, chemicals, or electronics at home, take advantage of the local free Household Chemical and Electronics Collection events.  There are several held in the local community for housing residents throughout the year.

• Be environmentally conscious.

• Use environmentally friendly products instead of harsh hazardous materials.

• Don’t pour grease down the drains.

• Pick up your pet waste.

• Make sure your vehicle is in top working order; don’t have any leaks or smoke running out of the tail pipe.

• Use car washes at the AAFES gas stations or near the Auto Hobby Shop instead of hand washing to keep pollutants out of storm drains.

• Educate yourself on how to keep the environment safe; if you have questions, ask your Unit Environmental Coordinator or contact the 633 CES Environmental Element.

• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

• Don’t leave trash in the back of a pickup truck because it can fly out and be ingested by wildlife, eventually killing them.

According to Best, there are also shoreline restoration projects in the works.  These projects will put new rip rap and marsh vegetation along the shore at the Langley Marina and in the vicinity of Eagle Park.  The new rip rap will replace the concrete chunks currently in place and reduce shoreline erosion.  The vegetation along the shoreline will also create a habitat for marine organisms and serve as a natural filter improving water quality in the Back River. 

Along with the shoreline restoration, there are days throughout the year that the CES’ have environmental special events in which base personnel can participate.

Both installations participate in America Recycles Day, World Water Day, Earth Week, and more specific to the local area, Clean the Bay Day.  On base, there are also automated carwash events, an annual base cleanup and opportunities to clean up and maintain the base nature trail, located just off of Worley Rd.

“What land we have is all we have, they aren’t making any more of it,” said Best.  “It’s all a work in progress to make big changes to our environment, but it’s happening.”