Lakenheath Recycle Center saves money with trash

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kristopher Levasseur
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --  Fraud waste and abuse is a common term in today's Air Force. The Air Force has done many things to reduce wasteful spending such as initiating a fraud waste and abuse reporting program and instituting AFSO 21 initiatives. One thing some people don't think about to save money is recycling.

The RAF Lakenheath Recycling Center earns more than $150,000 a year using materials that would otherwise be thrown in the trash. The money is earned by selling recyclable material on the local economy and is rolled back into the recycling center for various equipment and bins.

"Recycling is important because it saves resources and cuts down on waste costs for the Air Force," said Master Sgt. Shaun Elliott, 48th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental superintendent.

The recycling center accepts a wide variety of recyclable material. The center collects thousands of pounds of cardboard, aluminum cans, glass bottles, plastic, scrap metal and many other items each week.

"If people are not sure if something can be recycled or not, they should give us a call," said Tech. Sgt. Gerald Hampton, 48th CES recycling center manager. "Even if we are unable to take a certain item, we can refer you to someone who can."

According to Rod Barrett, 48th CES recycling center yard controller, even with the thousands of pounds of recycling RAF Lakenheath processes, many people still throw away recyclable material.

"One of our biggest money makers is metals, brass and aluminum such as left over brass from the firing range and soda cans," said Sergeant Elliott. "Recycling is more than just a money maker though, It is an important step to sustaining our environment and is something everyone should take seriously."

The 48th CES is dedicated to providing the best available service. The recycling staff has placed recycling bins at various locations throughout RAFs Feltwell and Lakenheath, each properly labeled for the products that should be placed in them. In addition, they provide pickup for many of the facilities on base.

"Most of what people throw away can be recycled," said Mr. Barrett. "The more people recycle, the more room is available in land fills and the more environmentally friendly we are."

For more information on recycling, call 226-3990.