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The Earth gets one chance at life

  • Published
  • By Diane Wulf
  • 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron, Pollution Prevention Program Manager
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Nov. 15 is America Recycles Day, and to celebrate, you're asked to take a pledge - a pledge to come together and recycle better, because it's easier to make a difference now more than ever.

Many of you have made it a daily habit to recycle a wide variety of products. But did you ever wonder what happens to those products after the recycle truck picks them up or you drop them off at the Recycle Center?

Well, they are sold to companies that use the materials to make new products. For instance, did you know it takes 80 to 100 years for an aluminum can to decompose, but a recycled aluminum can is back in the store as a new can in about six weeks? The soda bottle you recycled a couple of months ago may be in that new park bench in one of the base parks. Paper products can be made into items such as cereal boxes, paper towels and new paper products. And glass never wears out; it can be recycled forever.

So how does this help the environment? In addition to keeping them out of landfills or incinerators, using recycled material means that manufacturers have to take fewer raw materials from the environment. This saves a lot of energy and helps preserve natural habitats. Recycling is one of the easiest ways you can help stop global warming. For example, one ton of recycled paper saves enough energy to power a three-bedroom house for an entire year.

At Fairchild we are committed to preserving the environment through, in part, offering comprehensive recycling services. Fairchild has done a great job at recycling. A variety of products are currently collected in the housing areas as part of the curbside recycling program. These items include corrugated cardboard, glass bottles and jars, newspapers, magazines, phone books, mixed waste paper (such as cereal boxes, colored paper, envelopes, junk mail, etc.), white ledger paper, computer paper, aluminum and tin cans, batteries, and a variety of plastics. The sticker on your curbside recycling bin provides more information.

The base Recycle Center accepts all of these items in addition to household and automotive batteries, used oil, and used antifreeze. A household chemical reuse shelf and a free moving box program are also offered at the Recycle Center.

So this year, take five minutes to reevaluate your recycling routine. See if you can do more and take a the recycling pledge by going to the AmericaRecyclesDay.org website to learn more about recycling - why it is important, how it works, and how you can make a difference!

Additional information on the Recycle Center services can be obtained by calling 247-2885 or the Recycling Program Manager at 247-2313.