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Recyclables, organics, hazardous
wastes and C&D debris are being handled by a variety of programs at military bases around the country.
UNITED STATES military bases are working to meet the solid waste diversion requirements of their specific branch of the service, as well as those of the state in which they are located. For the Navy, the goal is to reduce the disposal of nonhazardous solid waste 50 percent by 1999. The Air Force is aiming for a 50 percent reduction of the waste stream two years earlier. Both goals are being calculated from a 1992 baseline. Many bases have developed innovative programs to collect, process recyclables and hazardous wastes, and compost organics generated on site. Managers of such programs face special challenges because the bases not infrequently are several thousand square miles in size, contain both military and civilian populations, and are situated in areas with extreme weather conditions. Details about several of these programs follow.
NAVAL STATION SAN DIEGO
Home of the Pacific Fleet, Naval Station (NAVSTA) San Diego has an award winning recycling center that diverted more than 10,400 tons of materials from landfills and generated $915,863 in revenues in fiscal year 1996. The recycling center is located on eight acres and includes a source separated area as well as a composting area. Accepted materials include aluminum and steel cans, #1 through #5 plastics, all grades of paper, cardboard, wood, yard trimmings, scrap tires, rope, oil filters and scrap metal.
NAVSTA San Diego is one of the largest naval stations in the world, with 51 homeported Pacific Fleet ships, 14 piers, 50 tenants and 45,000 military and civilian employees located on 1,029 acres of land and 326 acres of water. Almost half of the base's solid waste, excluding construction and demolition debris, is generated by its ships and is brought ashore for recycling or disposal. The base uses a landfill on Navy property that is operated by the city of San Diego. Base recycling manager Timonie Hood says that NAVSTA and its contractors do not pay tipping fees at the landfill, but work closely with the city to minimize NAVSTA's waste disposal. In addition, says Hood, NAVSTA is working to meet California's solid waste diversion requirement of 50 percent by the...