Altus AFB introduces curbside recycling program for base housing

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kenneth W. Norman
  • 97th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  More than 500 blue recycling bins were delivered to base housing residents Nov. 28.

The 96 gallon bins are part of a new curbside recycling program for base housing residents. Instead of separating their recycling and taking it to recycling trailers, participants can now put all of their recyclables into one container and place it at the curb on pick-up days. Each house is assigned one recycle bin.

"This gives base housing residents an easy opportunity to be a part of our recycling program," said Kevin Ramos, Altus AFB Balfour Beatty Community facilities manager. "Residents no longer have to bring their recycling to the recycle trailers, they have their own bins and they do not have to sort their recycling any longer. This makes it really easy to recycle."

The bins hold all mixed recyclables including cardboard, glass, paper, aluminum, steel, tin, plastics numbered one through five and seven. All recyclables can be mixed in the bins without needing to be bagged or separated.

Collection is scheduled to take place every other Thursday beginning Dec. 1. Bins must be placed on the curb by 7 a.m. for collection and should be placed back next to houses by 5 p.m.

A curbside recycling program has never been available for base residents at Altus AFB.

"This is another big first for Altus," said Earl Johnson, Altus Balfour Beatty Community manager. "We wanted a more robust curbside program, but no one in the immediate area does any kind of curbside recycling. We have invested thousands of dollars into this program so that base housing residents have an opportunity to recycle."

Ramos has been working to get this program running for about two years and hopes to see participation by base residents.

"We wish for as much participation as possible," Ramos said. "We would like to see all 530 recycling bins out there on pick-up days."

For more information contact BBC at 580-379-4002.