Photo By Keith Hayes | Recycling is not only mandated by federal and state law, but it is a source for funds...... read more read more
Why we have a Qualified Recycling Program (QRP)
California law requires local and state government agencies and commercial entities of a certain size to make every effort to reduce the amount of trash going into area landfills by establishing an aggressive recycling program. The Department of Defense requires each installation to establish their own Qualified Recycling Program.
Along with generating revenue for the base, the QRP enables departments to drop off or have their recyclable material picked up, thereby maintaining the beatification of the base as well as creating a sense of pride for base employees.
QRP earns money for base activities
MCLBs Qualified Recycling Program is invaluable.
“Proceeds from the sale of recycled material can be used as a funding source for numerous extracurricular base projects that we all enjoy but are not directly supported by MCLBB’s operating fund,” Arley Lessard, QRP manager, said.
“Since 2001, the base QRP has earned nearly $1.5 million,” she added.
Among the various activities eligible for QRP funding are morale and welfare events such as the Marine Corps Birthday Ball, the Single Marine Program, and the Marine Corps Rodeo.
What’s ahead for the QRP aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base Barstow
The QRP is designed to be a one stop location for all of the base’s recycling needs.
“Metals, paper, plastic bottles, drained oil filters, and cardboard that would ordinarily just be thrown away, can now become a commodity which can then be sold to recycling retailers,” Jason Thompson, environmental director, said.
A dedicated location for the QRP
The QRP facility has relocated to building 146 of the Nebo Annex of MCLB Barstow. The new QRP location includes three warehouses and a fenced area to store recyclable materials.
MCLB Barstow having its own recycling center is a huge money-saver in itself because in recent years the base has used Southwest Regional Fleet Transportation vehicles to haul the accumulated recycling material to a Materials Recovery Facility. The commercial MRFs in the community also levy a large fee for segregating the comingled recycling material into the various categories while removing the trash destined for area landfills, and that dramatically reduces profits for the QRP.
“SWRFT also hauls away the trash accumulated aboard base to the landfill. The landfill charges a sizeable fee for each ton of trash that is received. The less trash there is to haul means lower cost in landfill fees,” Lessard said.
The QRP currently has or is soon getting the right equipment for the job
• Baler
The MCLBB QRP already has a baler dedicated to creating large blocks of recycled cardboard, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans.
“Big recycling retailers that we sell our baled material to pay top dollar for prepackaged recycling items, because it’s cheaper and easier for them to transport and sell to the manufacturers that turn that ‘raw’ material into consumer items,” Thompson said. He noted that currently 50 percent of an average soft drink and beverage can is made from recycled material. Aluminum and heavier metals are a resource that can be used over and over and over again.
• Crushers
Various types of crushers will be used at the facility to process aerosol cans, metal drums, and used oil filers.
“Not only will the program receive revenue from the recycled metals and oils,” Lessard said, “the cost of wasting out this material will be dramatically reduced, which is a cost savings to the base as a whole.”
• Vehicles
The QRP currently relies on SWRFT for the collection of recyclables, but is working to have its own dedicated fleet of vehicles to gather and transport material to the recycling vendors. Beyond the initial purchase of the vehicles and the cost to maintain the QRP fleet and supply drivers, a dedicated vehicle will allow the QRP to reduce the use of outside sources, therefore reducing the cost of operations and putting more money back into the program.
Personnel whom would assist in the collection of the various recycling materials from each collection point throughout the base will be sourced from the local job development program Best Opportunities, Thompson explained. This offers gainful employment for those in that program who are just entering the job market and the opportunity for them to develop a professional résumé to present to future employers.
More dedicated recycling bins
“We’re going to be replacing the large blue comingled recycling bins with individual bins dedicated to aluminum, plastic bottles, and paper,” Lessard said. This will allow base personnel to sort their materials before collection allowing for better processing at the QRP.
“Cardboard dumpsters have also begun to be modified with slots to ensure cardboard is broken down to its flat state for easier baling and transporting,” she said.
“We’re setting up a recycling hotline for the QRP dedicated to answering all your recycling questions and needs” Lessard said. “This can also be used to schedule pick up of bulk items that don’t fit into recycling bins.”
The QRP will soon have a storefront
The QRP one stop location will also be a place where products such as firewood, used but serviceable tires, pallets, and wooden shipping crates, can be purchased for use by do-it-yourself enthusiasts, those with a crafty bent, or simply those looking to save big on wood products that can be repurposed for use around the home.
“The QRP will be hosting a storefront grand opening event in the near future with a date yet to be determined,” Lessard said.
The QRP is looking to the future
As the QRP gets into full operation, the scope of the program could expand to include recycling of yard waste, food and other compostable organic materials. This may be used as fertilizer or mulch for base green areas or could be sold to commercial composters.
Participation in the base QRP will be actively encouraged
Base personnel will soon be seeing flyers, banners, advertisements, stories in the base publication The Prospector, and videos on the base’s social media websites encouraging participation in the ambitious recycling program.
“Dedicated training sessions will be established to get everyone up to speed on the importance of recycling,” Lessard explained.
Base commanding officer Col. Craig Clemans will soon release a base order encouraging and compelling each department aboard the installation to actively engage in the QRP.
Recycling laws also allow California State to “encourage” businesses in the state and local government entities to engage in recycling by levying heavy fines, often on a daily basis, until waste stream reduction goals are met.
Beyond the legally mandated requirements of the QRP, keeping trash out of landfills frees up more area for living, protects natural areas for the enjoyment of current and future generations, and increases the cleanliness of the air we breathe, the water we drink and cook with, and the ground on which we live and play.
“The QRP also prompts and reminds citizens to treat the environment as the living entity it is and reduce, as much as is possible, the contamination of the earth, sky, and water, of the world in which we live,” Thompson concluded.
| Date Taken: | 10.22.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 10.26.2020 11:25 |
| Story ID: | 381741 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS LOGISTICS BASE BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 148 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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