Base reinvigorates recycling program Published Sept. 10, 2013 By Ted Theopolos WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- Starting in early October, beverage recycling containers will be removed from common areas on base and replaced with eight centralized collection points around the base in a move expected to strengthen the sustainability of the program. Roughly six-hundred buildings on base have beverage recycling containers for plastic bottles, glass and cans in their common area. "Currently with the manpower involved in the collection and preparation of these commodities and the low price received, the center is losing money," said Dave Dalton, Recycling Program manager. Never a profitable commodity, the market for beverage containers has dipped further in the past few years forcing Wright-Patt's Recycling Center to subsidize it with profits from other areas. Going to the centralized collection system will give program managers the flexibility to focus their available manpower onto more profitable tasks. "We recognize the importance of recycling to safeguard the environment for everyone in the Miami Valley," said Col. Cassie Barlow, 88th Air Base Wing commander. "However, the base cannot afford to absorb losses from the Recycling Center due to the market drop in recyclable commodities. We must make this change to ensure the future viability of the program." The beverage recycling containers will be removed from inside Wright-Patt buildings between October 2 and 15. Individuals can take recyclables home to recycle or collect the items as an office or building and take them to specific locations on base. Base employees will have several locations to dispose of beverage recyclables. On September 30, four recycling Pod's will be centrally located in Area A and four in Area B. The three existing site specific collection areas already in place will be maintained. The locations for the new "Pod" beverage recyclable containers will be at: Area A · Building 1 parking lot · Building 22 parking lot · Building 4035 parking lot · Building 262/266 Area B · AMC Complex · Building 52 parking lot on the east side · AFIT parking lot on the north side · Building 837 parking lot on the north side Removing recycling bins from individual buildings should not be interpreted as ending the recycling program, he added. "The base will continue recycling paper, cardboard, toner cartages and other commodities as it has done in the past," said Dalton. "There will be no changes on how those recyclables are collected. The key change is how we capture beverage recyclables." Having fewer locations to pick-up beverage recyclables is more cost effective and allows the Recycling Center to redistribute manpower to other areas that are more profitable which helps the center be more self-supporting. "Besides pods for beverage recyclables for plastics, glass and cans other Pods will be included for paper, cardboard and toner cartages," said Dalton. "Not all buildings have a recycling container/dumpster, so by adding more Pods at the centralized locations for paper, cardboard, and toner cartages, we hope to capture more recycling commodities." If you have questions about the new beverage recyclable collection, please call Dave Dalton at 257-5060.