Jose Carlos Mireles, contract recycle technician, uses a forklift to unload a recycle receptacle Nov. 5 at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. (U.S. Air Force photo by Benjamin Faske) (Photo by Benjamin Faske )
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas —
Information kiosks, games and prizes are in place for a Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph effort to promote recycling 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday at the Exchange, coinciding with America Recycles Day.
America Recycles Day, celebrated every Nov. 15 since 1997, is nationally recognized to raise recycling awareness and highlight the benefits of saving earth's resources.
"We've had great turnouts for our local events during past years, so we want to continue to encourage and motivate military members and civilians to attend, learn and have a good time," Glenn Williams, 902nd Civil Engineer Squadron environmental protection specialist, said.
Prizes include Frisbees, sunglasses, insulated lunch boxes and pencils - all made with recycled materials.
Part of the event is to draw attention to Randolph's recycling center along East Perimeter Road.
The Randolph Recycling Center is open 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, which includes an area open 24/7 for self-drop-off.
At the 24/7 section, south of Bldg. 1139, people can leave cardboard, paper, scrap metal, plastic and glass.
Along with the aforementioned materials, people can unload larger appliances such as refrigerators (with Freon removed), washers, dryers and stoves at the main center, Bldg. 1152, during business hours.
"Electronic items are something in general people may not know they can recycle, as long as they are not government property," Clarence Denis, Randolph Recycling Center manager, said.
Electronic items include but aren't limited to radios, phones, MP3 players and non-vacuum tube TVs.
"People are welcome to shred documents at the recycling center as well," Williams said.
"Privately owned documents, Privacy Act information and follow-up documents marked with 'For Official Use Only' can be shredded as long as it's not classified."
Denis said those with paper to recycle can either drop it off for recycling center staff to handle, or they can personally shred documents at the center to ensure sensitive information is properly disposed of.
Shredded paper is also accepted at the center.
The Air Force requires 46 percent of all solid waste put in landfills from an installation to be recycled or reused; Randolph meets this requirement, but Williams said that because the requirement rises 2 percent annually, active participation in recycling is important.
For more information, call the Randolph Recycling Center at 836-8406.