An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Scott Recycling Center-A second chance at life for paper, plastic and glass

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Amber Kelly-Woodward
  • 375th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
With all the projects in the works to use resources wiser, many may forget the easiest way to be "green" - recycling.

The Scott Recycling Collection Area, which is manned by four contractors from Challenge Unlimited, accepts many recyclables.

"By law, each base is required to divert solid waste by 40 percent," said Carla Daggitt, 375th Civil Engineer Squadron Environmental Management Office qualified recycling program manager. "Lately, Scott has just been meeting the 40 percent mark."

Anybody with base access is able to use the center.

"We will be installing 12 large and 12 small recycling bins around base near dumpsters to encourage more recycling," said Kirk Mattioda, 375th CES quality assurance evaluator.

Each location on base has recycling facilities. Custodial workers remove recyclables from the buildings and place them near dumpsters for the center's personnel to pick up.

The Environmental Management Office and Recycling Center both have recycling bins available for anyone on base.

Lack of recycling is not only bad for the environment, but it can lead to write ups during Environmental Occupational Health Compliance Assessment and Management Program inspections.

"I come to the Scott Recycling Center because it is free, where I live they charge to pick up recyclables," said Lt. Col. (ret.) Mike Delpinto. "I keep (recyclables) in the garage and drop them off when I get a truck load on my way to the Commissary."

The center accepts newspaper, magazines, cardboard (including cereal boxes, cracker boxes and similar types), plastics (excluding bags), aluminum, steel/tin cans, white paper, computer paper, mixed paper, junk/personal mail and all types of metals.

Items that the center does not accept include yard waste, Styrofoam (including peanuts), bubble wrap, mattresses, wood, paper towels/tissue, plate glass/fine china, batteries, glass bottles, tires, paint or paint cans, oily rags, oil cans, gas cans, TVs, microwaves, computers or monitors, food products or regular trash. Anyone interested in disposing of any of these items can contact the center or the Environmental Management Office.

"We do accept appliances such as refrigerators, washers and dryers and stoves, but customers should call first before bringing in these items." said Scott Gibbs, Scott Recycling Center Area project manager.

The center is open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and can only accept items during these times.

The center is located at 34020 New Mexico Street. Customers coming from the Shiloh Gate should make a left on East Winters Drive, continue on South Drive, make a right on Illinois Street, make a right on Indiana Street and make a right on New Mexico Street.

For more information, contact the Recycling Center at 256-6431 or the Environmental Management Office at 256-2092.