Earth Day: An annual event with increasing importance

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt Amanda Ferrell
  • 325th Public Affairs office
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Formed in 1970 with a mission to protect the environment and public health, the Environmental Protection Agency has made tremendous strides in protecting natural resources and the environment.

The accomplishments of the EPA in the realm of legislation and public policy are many, but grass-roots, individual efforts have made a similarly significant impact on environmental preservation.

Earth Day, which is celebrated April 22 each year, will be recognized by the 325th Civil Engineer environmental flight.

"Tyndall will recognize Earth Day by hosting an awareness booth set up in front of the commissary," said ChiQuita George, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron pollution prevention program manager. "The booth will be equipped with base-specific environmental literature and pamphlets, and coloring books and recycling wheels for children."

The booth will be set up from 10 a.m. until noon outside the entrance to the commissary.

"Preservation of our most precious natural resources is a learned behavior and we take pride in lessening the impact to the environment," said Lt. Col. Sue Grumbach, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron commander.

Tyndall agencies are dedicating massive efforts to conserve resources. Experts here are also focus on decreasing our carbon-footprint by increasing the efficiency of our energy consuming processes.

"Tyndall is fully committed to environmental stewardship and we do this by reducing, recycling and reusing," said George. "A great example of Team Tyndall minimizing the impact to the environment includes buying 30 percent or greater recycled-content paper."

By using recycled paper, Tyndall complies with the Green Procurement Program, which works to enhance and sustain mission readiness through cost effective processes that reduce resource consumption and waste, said George.

"Tyndall recycled over 193 tons of scrap metal, 158 tons of cardboard and 29 tons of paper just this past quarter," said Colonel Grumbach. "Recycling materials significantly reduces pollution and allows reuse of that same material versus using raw materials."

While Tyndall agencies are leading the way to mitigate environmental damage, the efforts of individuals on Tyndall combine to make the greatest impact.

Earth Day, which was officially recognized in 1970, has focused on the combined efforts of individual citizens to produce significant results. Many ecologists and environmental professionals agree that adopting personal behaviors that increase efficiency and decrease waste is the foundation of significant change.

Since the inception of the EPA, and the first celebration of Earth Day, educators have worked to offer information and guidance to citizens, elected officials and industry regarding their environmental impact.

"Our future generations will definitely reap the benefits of our proactive attitude," said Colonel Grumbach.

To better understand the efforts Team Tyndall is making to address environmental concerns, and to find out how you can make a difference, visit the Earth Day booth April 20 at the commissary entrance.