Student dormitory residents relaunch recycling program Published June 17, 2016 By Amy Rollins Skywrighter Staff WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Airmen living in the dormitories in Kittyhawk Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, relaunched a recycling program in January that has the potential to save the Air Force money. The program centers on the support of the Airmen Dorm Council and the cooperation of unaccompanied Airmen, E1 through E4, with fewer than three years of active-duty federal service. They are the residents of Bldgs. 1212 through 1216, 1218 and 1254, Area A. The dorms house up to 408 residents. Currently 72 different career fields are represented. The Airmen are encouraged to carry their plastic, glass, paper and cardboard items, sort and recycle them into 8-cubic-yard bins that can hold up to 2,800 pounds of material just north of Bldg. 1216. "We talked to our leadership to launch this program to see if it would pay off in the long run," said Master Sgt. Randy McKenzie, superintendent of dormitory operations. "As we know, recycling on the base saves the Air Force money. What recycling really does is reduce the number of trips the company contracted to haul away garbage has to make. Currently, they come onto the base twice per week; we're trying to get that number down to one through recycling, which is diverted to the base's own recycling program. If we're successful, this has the potential to save the Air Force about $4,000 per year." A similar effort was held years ago, said Master Sgt. Wayne Gatewood, superintendent of unaccompanied housing said, but the dorm residents weren't receptive, and the program was discontinued. McKenzie and Gatewood said they try not to force participation but instead brief residents on the benefits of recycling whenever they can. "There is a potential that the money we save might come back to us for dorm upkeep expenses and quality-of-life improvements or additions," McKenzie said. "If they did give us that money, we could use it for more leisure items or barbecues," Gatewood said. "First we would have to save the money. But we are getting buy-in." Cans and bottles are what the 18- to 24-year-old residents mostly produce. Airman 1st Class Tyler Williams, who is studying computer maintenance at the 88th Communications Squadron, said he doesn't generate much recycling but is committed to doing so when he does have a recyclable item. Airman 1st Class Salina Jones, medical technician, 88th Medical Group, said she regularly recycles to help save money and trees. "This is a good program and has potential to both increase recycling sales and help reduce solid waste costs," said Dave Dalton, Solid Waste/Recycling Program manager, 88th Air Base Wing Environmental Management Division. "While the increased sales/solid waste savings is minimal, programs like these are important teaching tools. The Airman participating in this program are now equipped to take the recycling practices they have learned through this program and apply them at their work stations. While we can quantify the numbers generated in a small controlled program like this, you can't put a number on the savings these individuals will achieve for the Air Force throughout their careers." "We're monitoring the results, adjusting where we can and hoping to save the Air Force money - that's our ultimate goal," Gatewood said.