Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

The Facilities Environmental Branch Office aboard Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, provided station residents the opportunity to tour the Iwakuni City Recycling Plaza, April 24, 2015.

Facilities put together this event, along with a trip to the Water Treatment Center in Iwakuni City on April 22, to celebrate Earth Day 2015.

Every year Headquarters Marine Corps develops a theme for Earth Day and they ask the installations for a report on everything they are doing to celebrate Earth Day.

“We have to report what our plans are,” said Cody Atkins, environmental specialist with Facilities. “Our plan was just to go to the Water Treatment Center, but we decided to add the tour of the Recycling Center because it was a big success last time we went there with the Youth and Teen Center.”

Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22 and its purpose is to broaden the awareness of environmental protection.

“I fully support Earth Day, I feel like some people don’t take it as seriously as they should,” said Staff Sgt. James N. Dixon, safety and environmental representative for Marine Wing Support Squadron 171. “Sometimes as Americans, compared to other countries, we don’t look at it as a big deal but it is because it’s our future. It’s not just about recycling trash, it also involves things like solar and wind power.”

According to Atkins, recycling is going to be a huge deal aboard station because just recently the commanding officer of MCAS Iwakuni decided to close the land fill.

“Recycling is especially important on the installation because the local community is required to recycle, so it would be odd if we’re living in their country and we’re the only ones not recycling,” said Atkins. “Also, the more we recycle the more money we make for the station.”

Atkins added that because the past two events were so successful Facilities is working on planning at least one trip per quarter that focuses on promoting environmental awareness.