Students visit recycling center

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Sergio A. Gamboa
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 60 Tyndall Elementary students toured the Tyndall Recycling Center Nov. 13 for winning their schools recycling contest.

Tyndall has an annual recycling project contest that's held at a different school every year. The winners of the contest get to tour the recycling center.

Workers divided the students into two groups and showed them all aspects of the center. Both groups got a chance to look at their equipment and different type of materials that Tyndall recycles.

"We want to show the kids how the recycling process works," said Dexter Siples, 325th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental technician. "We brought them out here to show them what we do on a daily basis to improve the environment. They get an idea on what they can do to make their community a better place."

During the tour, students had a chance to ask questions on how to recycle and how it benefits the environment.

"I think the kids had a great time," said Siples. "The kids were asking different types of questions, like how many plastic bottles fit in a bale and how much they weighed. They were also giving us ideas on what they can do with different recyclables."

After the visit to the recycling center, the students went to Natural Resources where they learned the different types of trees, plants and animals that are native to Tyndall during a trail walk.

Prior to returning to school, the students learned about the bases efforts to prevent and fight forest fires.

"Now they can tell other kids and their parents that recycling makes a difference in our environment and community," said Robert Myers, 325th CES recycling coordinator. "Every year it is the same thing. They love the tour, and always do a good job keeping us on our toes. The schools we invite always do a good job on making the community a better place."