Someone's trash, is someone else's treasure

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Matthew Lotz
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Over time, as various government-owned supplies and electronics deteriorate and become unused, Team Aviano members must ensure these items are either recycled or properly disposed of, with the help of the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services.

"We are here, first and foremost, as Team Aviano members to protect national security," said Tiffany Emmons, 31st DLA disposition services area manager at Aviano.

"We are also here to be good stewards for the taxpayer's dollars to reutilize what we receive. We are here to ensure if another [Department of Defense] agency needs something we have, instead of buying that new item, we can exchange it and vice versa. We are like a thrift store with a whole bunch of regulations."

Recently, Aviano's DLA office initiated a base-wide spring cleaning event to help units clear out unused government property without the usual wait-times of typical requests.

More than 100 Team Aviano vehicles were loaded with government property and unwanted office supplies, filling 17 large green containers at the Hanger 5 location. Large bins with designated labels collected items such as batteries, computers, monitors, cords, metals, plastic, toner cartridges and wood.

The cleanup provided squadrons around the base a chance clear out items they no longer needed, which accumulated to approximately 142,815 pounds of scrap weight.

"We took mostly everything people came in with except the aircraft parts," said Tech. Sgt. Jessica Kiser, Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services property management branch superintendent. "We can still take the aircraft parts, but it requires a little more time and coordination than what we can provide at the spring cleaning."

The event was a first for the DLA office, which turned out to be very successful, but according to Emmons, prepared the base for something much larger.

"In 2016 the wing will be audited and inspected to ensure all government equipment is accounted for," said Emmons. "To better prepare the wing for the audit, we will be going around and doing our own inspections until then."

The audit is a DOD-wide inspection that will require all squadrons and units to have the proper identification for their items in the office to include what funds they used to purchase that item, where that item is located and if it was properly disposed of.

According to Emmons, to help assist in the upcoming audit, there are individuals throughout the base in charge of a list of their office equipment and government property. Normally, if trying to get rid of office equipment, these custodians are required to fill out a DD Form 1348-1A.

"We understand people hate filling out paperwork, but we need the correct information filled out on it to help create the proper audit trail," Emmons explained. "If they have any questions and need help, that's what we are here for."

Offices looking to dispose of items, but are uncertain whether or not it can be taken, should still fill out the form and the disposition services' team will assist with the process.

"What Aviano members should understand is that we know when squadrons have improperly disposed of government property off base," said Emmons. "People need to understand that things such as recall rosters, aircraft parts, computer equipment and other critical information, can be used against us and it is our duty as service members to protect that information."

While some might think the DLA office only takes old and unusable items, according to Kiser, several of the items they receive are brand new and have never been used.

"The disposition services team has actually implemented a new website that will allow any service member to log onto and retrieve office items they may need," explained Kiser. "People can get almost anything off there for free."

For more information on properly disposing government supplies or assistance registering for the website, call or email the DLA office at 632-7352 or DRMS-E.Aviano.Personnel@dla.mil or visit http://www.dispositionservices.dla.mil.