RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas –
Recycling is something people seem to really care about here, where nearly $200,000 was generated last year by Randolph Recycling Center.
The facility was cited with a performance award by the Central Texas Recycling Association Recycling Alliance for Texas. It is a commendation to be shared by everyone on the base, facility operators said, after nearly $400,000 worth of refuse was diverted from area landfills in 2007.
All monies generated by the recycling center are used to make the facility more effective, with a new shredding machine expected to be bought and installed in a brand new 50-by-50-foot building that's already been constructed.
"The first few years the center was open, there was not that much public interest and therefore not that much participation by the Randolph community," said Robin Armhold, Environmental Flight chief. "Since about 2004, the system has started to work really well and people have taken an interest in recycling."
"We processed 13,228 tons of cardboard alone," said Stella Rodriguez, recycling coordinator. "Cardboard is our top money-producing item but we also do well with aluminum, plastics, various types of paper and other commodities."
The award cited cardboard recycling specifically and is one of several earned for the Randolph facility, which opened in 1999. Randolph collected more than 4,181 tons of recyclable material in 2007.
Receptacles for cardboard only are scattered around the base, as are bins for items such as plastics, paper, metals, used cell phones, oil and hazardous materials, furniture, batteries and a host of other items.
The most-used set of receptacles is located on the grounds of the Randolph Recycling Center, which is situated on East Perimeter Road near the base horse stables and scout hut. Signage on all the receptacles indicates exactly what can be placed in each one.
"We conduct facility manager meetings with people throughout the base and we've stopped people from throwing the wrong things into the various containers," said Ms. Rodriguez, who works with a staff of four employees at the center. "That's why we share this award and share success that we have with everyone here on base. You can just see how positive the process is when you look at how much is actually being recycled."
The award comes as Randolph nears what is being done at Lackland's recycling facility. "We process about seven million pounds of recycled material each year," said Jesse Salinas, recycling chief at Lackland AFB Recycling Center.
Randolph is not far behind Lackland in productivity, having processed only 300 tons less cardboard than the much-larger Lackland recycling facility.
"Lackland has always done exceptional and Randolph is following in their footsteps," Ms. Rodriguez said. "They have a much larger staff and can draw from a larger pool. I am proud of my staff and they are very enthused about their jobs."
Call 652-5606 for details about specific items being recycled on Randolph.