Environmental Flight ushers in Earth Day

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Timothy R. Capling
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  In recognition of Earth Day, the 325th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental flight will host an environmental awareness booth from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday outside of the commissary.

The environmental flight will feature an electric car from Sunelectro and the booth itself is going to be equipped with base-specific environmental literature, pamphlets, children's coloring books, and recycling and energy conservation products, said ChiQuita George, 325th CES installation hazardous materials and pollution prevention manager.

Over the past year, Tyndall Air Force Base has undertaken some "green" initiatives. More than 75,000 tons of concrete from an airfield pavement project is being re-used, recycling initiatives have been implemented and the 325th Maintenance Group is using more environmentally friendly products, Ms. George said.

"Some of our government vehicles on base are using bio-based fuel," said Ms. George.


Ms. George and Steve McLellan, 325th CES chief of environmental compliance strongly encourage recycling as a way to help the cause.

"Recycling by far is the number one initiative on and off base," Ms. George said.

Mr. McLellan added that recycling is cost effective and important.

"Recycling is profitable via cost avoidance. Not that we actually make money recycling, but the cost to operate a healthy recycling program is less than the cost to put all of that material in a landfill or the incinerator," Mr. McLellan said. "There is ultimately a savings."

After recycling, the priorities are conserving energy and water, and reducing solid waste-generation, said Ms. George.

She encourages several products to conserve energy, such as power consumption monitors, smart switches, power strips and light controls.

"The booth at the commissary provides base-specific literature for personnel to become more involved in the programs at the installation and also provides information that can be applied at home to help the earth globally," Ms. George said.

The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 along with the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency. According to the EPA's Web site, Earth Day has evolved into a world-wide campaign to protect the global environment.

"We are going to promote the Earth Day pledge at our booth next week," Ms. George said, "I pledge to protect the Earth, to respect the web of life upon it, to honor the dignity of every member of our global family. One planet, one people, one world, in harmony. With peace, justice, and freedom for all."