Recycle: every little bit helps

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Christine Halan
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Team Mildenhall celebrated the 45th annual Earth Day by holding a week of activities for all age groups on base.

The activities delivered an understanding to military members and their families on the importance of recycling and keeping the environment clean.

"This year's theme is 'Conserve Today - Secure Tomorrow,' and that's Air Force-wide," said Gwynn Ellis, 100th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental scientist contractor from Charlottesville, Va.  "The goal for the Air Force this year is to recycle 55 percent of our non-hazardous solid waste and 100 percent of our electronic waste throughout the installation."

Unit environmental coordinators across the installation were asked to help plan the week-long event with a variety of activities including educating children through story time to providing educational outreach to those on base about proper recycling procedures off base.

"This year we asked our UEC's to help us plan and they've been a huge help," said Ellis.

One of the longest events during the week was the "Walk not Drive" challenge - promoting energy conservation by driving less.

Technical Sgt. Ian S. Reid, 100th Logistics Readiness Squadron Unit Quality Assurance evaluator from Wilmington, Del., came up with the idea for this particular event and obtained 600 free pedometers for anyone participating. However, Team Mildenhall Airmen are encouraged to challenge themselves in making an effort to conserve energy all year round.

"Anybody can participate (in the challenge) during their duty day or during their commute, to help save the environment by walking instead of driving and using less fossil fuels as well as promoting clean air," Ellis said.

Earth Day provides an opportunity for every individual Airman to show their commitment to the environment through recycling. In a lifetime, the average Airman will throw away 600 times the amount of his or her adult weight in garbage. For example, a 150-pound adult will leave a trash legacy of 90,000 pounds.

Recycling is an important component of protecting the environment that aids the local communities and helps conserve resources and energy, preserves valuable landfill space and supports a healthy environment. 

"We're really appreciative of all the help and involvement that we received this year," said Ellis. "And we really encourage people to participate next year."

Make a habit of being green - for your family, the Earth and the Air Force. Small steps can and do make a difference. 

For more information, contact the 100th CES at DSN 238-6022 or commercial at 01638-546022.