JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. - –
According to the America Recycles Day website, over 55,000 people have signed up this year to take the pledge to recycle.
Members of the 733rd Civil Engineer Division Environmental Element at Fort Eustis are taking steps beyond the pledge and recognition of America Recycles Day, Nov. 15 by spreading recycling awareness throughout the month of November.
The Environmental Element is hosting the fourth annual "Cash 4 Cans" contest Nov. 3-26, with pick-ups scheduled Tuesday through Thursday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cans are redeemed at recycling centers for cash that is then returned to the units. In addition to the can drive, a week-long office-cleanout event was held leading up to America Recycles Day.
"America Recycles Day is a big deal, but we wanted to give the opportunity for as many people as possible to recycle when they can," said Arba Williamson, 733rd CED Environmental Element Prevention Branch chief. "We would not be able to pick up recyclables and support all the units in one day, so by spreading the events throughout the month, we give the units more opportunity to participate."
According to Williamson, many of the units require large pick-ups for cans.
"Some of the units collect all year long for the contest," said Williamson. "I've seen one unit with an entire Conex container full of cans they collected throughout the year."
So far in 2014, members of the Fort Eustis community have turned in around $100,000 in recyclable materials, offsetting the contract costs for trash pickup on the installation.
"America Recycles Day reminds us of the cost-savings associated with recycling," said Williamson. "This is a way for Service members and civilians to give back to their community, while helping keep the planet clean for many generations to come."
In addition to the "Cash 4 Cans" and the office cleanout events, the Environmental Element also displayed environmentally-friendly products at various locations on the installation the week leading up to America Recycles Day.
"We've set up the tables full of products that are made of recycled material to encourage people to take the pledge to recycle," said Karen Harvey, 733rd Environmental Element consulting environmental analyst. "A lot of people are already recycling at home so we want to encourage them to take it a step further and recycle at their office, or recycle something new, something they might not have realized could be recycled."
For those who wish to drop off recyclables The Fort Eustis Sold Waste and Recycle Center is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For more information, contact the 733rd CED Environmental Element at 878-4123.