Nellis Hospital Airmen take creative approach to recycling Published April 8, 2008 By Senior Airman Oleksandra G. Manko Nellis AFB Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The 99th Medical Group Airman Council initiated a month-long can-recycling competition among Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital clinics April to go in line with the Air Force's push for environmentally friendly operations. Airman 1st Class Alexander Turner, 99th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health technician and social adviser for the MDG Airman Council, started working on this project in December, inspired by the opening of the solar power array here. He calls it a "green to green" operation, an environmental improvement program that will bring in some cash. Proceeds will go to the Airman Council and will be used for morale-boosting activities. However, money-matters take second place to the higher goal the MDG Airman Council holds. "Our goal is to get people more aware of environmental issues and recycling," said Airman Turner. There were serious obstacles to overcome - infection control issues with storing the recyclables, logistics of delivering the materials, raising public's awareness and participation. At the moment the council is using two recycling bins provided by the base recycling center. They are stored outside the hospital and will not hold the cans for more than 24 hours. "Right now we're just doing aluminum cans," said the council president Senior Airman Patricia Villalobos. "The reason we're not doing the rest is because we don't have the space, but once we see the turn out at the end of the month, we'll probably do everything else." Every Monday morning the council members will do a walk-around collecting submissions from clinics. They will also collect cans from the dormitories and Airman's Center. The clinic which collects most cans by the end of the month will receive a free lunch from MDG Airman Council. "Everyone always wants a lunch provided to them," explained Airman Villalobos. "They are encouraged to bring the cans in to try and win. It's a contest; everyone likes to participate in a contest." The collected cans will be submitted to Silver Dollar Recycling at 40 cents a pound. If the program has a good turnout, MDG Airman Council will try to turn it into an ongoing event and help the Airmen Committed to Excellence start a similar program on base, said Airman Villalobos.
