Recycle center adds to arsenal of ‘green’ disposal systems Published Aug. 6, 2007 By 1st Lt. Holly Layer 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE -- The base recycling center has added a new weapon to its arsenal of environmentally friendly disposal systems. A Shred-Tech 25 shredder that can handle one ton of paper each hour was purchased in February for $50,000, said Bill Meinerding, an environmental engineer in the 88th Air Base Wing Civil Engineering Directorate. The shredder is used to allow sensitive material, such as paper with Privacy Act or critical information on it, to be shredded in-house before the paper is sold to make new paper. The base averages five tons of sensitive paper each month. Base employees or outside contractors used to perform the task of preparing sensitive paper for recycling, but that racked up a hefty price tag for the base: $14,400 a year. Mr. Meinerding said a ton of shredded paper can fetch $250. In addition to making money for the base, the shredder can help the base save up to $30,000 each year. Mr. Meinerding and his team know how to spread the wealth, too. He said he wants to open up the use of the shredder to those around the base who want to securely dispose of their personal sensitive information. "One day per week people will be able to set up an appointment to have their own documents shredded," Mr. Meinerding said. All the money saved and brought in from the sale of recyclable paper is used to keep the recycling program going.