Refuse, recycling policy changes begin Oct. 1 for DoD Family Housing, Team Kadena

  • Published
  • By Capt. Heather Boytim
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Team Kadena and Okinawa family housing residents, start stocking up on clear plastic garbage bags now!

Refuse and recyclable materials must be placed into separate, clear plastic bags beginning Oct. 1. All items not properly sorted and placed in clear bags will not be picked up by the contractors, leaving the disposal responsibility to the resident.

The supply and demand economic model applies. If members begin purchasing clear bags now, the item will be in demand. Therefore, the exchanges and commissaries will need to acquire more of the item to ensure an adequate amount is in stock for customers.

"We keep the store stocked with clear plastic bags for our customers who use them," said Ed Kleckner, Defense Commissary Agency Kadena assistant store director.

The new policy is a result of high refuse disposal costs for fiscal 2012, totaling approximately $5,700,000.

"The recycling program generated $529,277 last year, and produced a 22 percent diversion rate," said Vince Adams, 718th Civil Engineer Squadron solid waste manager. "Our goal this year is to reach a 50 percent diversion rate, meaning the more money we generate from the recycling program, the more the government will save on refuse disposal costs."

Currently, the refuse and recycling contractors succumb to sorting items by hand due to a lack of available equipment, which increases costs.

"By diligently separating their refuse and recyclable items by category, family housing residents and Team Kadena can help the base earn more money to put back into the recycling program, use for installation pollution abatement projects, or if possible, use towards morale, welfare, and recreation-approved programs," Adams said.

Recyclable materials should be separated into the following groups and placed in recycle bins: plastics (including styrofoam); metals and glass; white paper; mixed paper (magazines, mail, cereal/soda boxes, books, newspapers, food can labels, etc.); and green waste (leaves and grass).

The following items do not require bagging and can be left curbside or taken to the recycle center (located at building 871 near Karing Kennels): cooking oil in original container (used or unused); automotive batteries; electronic waste; large scrap metal pieces; flattened cardboard; and tree branches less than 6 feet in length.

Tires, large propane cylinders, motor oil, antifreeze and filters should be taken to an auto hobby shop or an Army and Air Force Exchange Service Station. Paint and excess household chemicals, toner cartridges, fluorescent bulbs, and NiCad, Lithium and Alkaline batteries (with taped terminals) can be taken to an Eagle Hardware self-help facility or the 718th CES environmental office (building 3623) near gate 4. Batteries may also be placed in specifically-labeled bins at the Kadena Exchange front entrance.

For more information regarding the refuse and recycling program, contact the
718th CES environmental office at 634-2600.