MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- In a strong effort to promote Station support for recycling here, the Recycling Center will hold a special drop-off day July 26.
Recycling Center employees will host the event that will be held in the parking lot across from the Armory on Newell Drive from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"We are trying to accomplish a Station-wide awareness of recycling," said Ryan Leming, Solid Waste supervisor. "The entire day we will be available to answer questions regarding areas such as the solid waste landfill and what is recyclable and what is not."
What Station residents may not be aware of is the fact that recycling makes money for the Station, which in return is put back into the community.
"Most of the new bus stops that were built came from recycling money," said Leming. "The more we recycle the more money we can make, but it needs to be a conscientious effort for everyone aboard the Station."
Leming also added that incorrect disposal of trash causes the Station to lose the money it should be profiting from.
"Recycling not only helps to improve the quality of life here on the Station, it saves the installation money. If it's not recycled it ends up in the trash and trash disposal is not free. That money we save by recycling can then be used for other base improvements," said Paul Hudson, Station Environmental trainer.
Although there may be some confusion on the proper separation of trash, Leming explained the basic rules. The four-way segregation system is applied in Japan for all trash disposals. All residents here need to separate their trash by combustibles, glass, aluminum cans and plastics.
According to Leming another common occurrence aboard the Station is the misleading information that contractors will pick up unsorted trash.
"They don?t have to," stated Leming. "In Japan if you don't segregate your trash they don't have to, and many times won't pick it up."
Common recyclables such as cardboard, white paper, magazines and anything that is boxed with cardboard-type material can be dropped off at the Recycling Center Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m or put in bins outside 24 hours a day seven days a week.
"We are just asking for the Station residents to do their part and help us recycle trash properly so it can benefit everyone in the community," said Leming.