America Recycles Day is November 15
Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) will receive the second annual America Recycles Day (ARD) Recycling Hero Award by Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful. The ARD Recycling Hero Award recognizes groups or individuals who have made a significant contribution to the promotion or implementation of recycling programs. The award will be presented to JBSA on ARD, a Keep America Beautiful national program and the only nationally recognized day dedicated to celebrating recycling annually on and around November 15.
“Keep America Beautiful is pleased to recognize JBSA for their tireless efforts to recycle and the impressive results they have achieved, especially during these challenging times” said Helen Lowman, PhD, Keep America Beautiful President and CEO. “JBSA’s service to not only our country, but also to the environment is a perfect demonstration of leadership for other Department of Defense bases to follow.”
Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) is the largest joint base in the Department of Defense (DOD). The Qualified Recycling Program (QRP) was established in 1998 and has consistently been recognized as one of the best recycling programs in the DOD. Since the recycling program was established, the QRP has increased recycling rates and is now a self-supporting program that does not rely on tax money or outside support. In 2019, JBSA recycling programs diverted 12,058,000 lbs. of recyclables from landfills.
The Qualified Recycling Program is known for its longevity and innovative approach for hard-to-recycle materials, materials reuse, and unique collection and processing ideas. Beyond recycling, JBSA promotes sustainability through energy conservation, green purchasing, and water conservation. The program collaborates with Keep Texas Recycling, a Keep Texas Beautiful program, and supports community education and outreach in the greater San Antonio area with the help of their mascot, “Sheriff R.E. Cycle.”
The program’s success is a credit to the entire Qualified Recycling Program team at Joint Base San Antonio. “As essential workers, our recycling team members are among JBSA’s unsung heroes,” says Alvin Brown, the Environmental Element Chief and JBSA Qualified Recycling Program Manager. “They truly care about our customers and the environment, and are meeting the many challenges and stresses of operating during this challenging and unprecedented time, due to the pandemic, with hard work, perseverance, fortitude, and dedication.” Throughout the pandemic, the staff has ensured that the recycling program continues and meets the needs of the 82,000 active duty, DOD and civilian personnel who work on base, and the 138,000 students who rotate through JBSA annually for training.