Suzanne Kho, left, Keep Texas Beautiful executive director, and Helen Lowman, right, Keep America Beautiful president and CEO, present a recycling award to Sgt. 1st Class George J. Johnson from the 5th Armored Brigade, Nov. 11, 2019. (Photo courtesy Keep America Beautiful)
Recycling Program receives America Recycles Day award
Courtesy Keep America Beautiful
National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful joined representatives from the Fort Bliss Recycling Heroes campaign Nov. 11, to individuals who have influenced the amount of solid waste on post, and continually strive to lessen Fort Bliss’ carbon footprint.
Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Helen Lowman presented the America Recycles Day recycling award to Terri Smythe, Fort Bliss recycling project manager, as a new component of future America Recycles Day celebrations. The goal is to have the Fort Bliss Recycle Heroes program adopted by other Department of Defense facilities to promote and enhance net zero waste initiatives and promote recycling throughout these facilities.
America Recycles Day, a Keep America Beautiful national program, takes place Nov. 15 annually.
Fort Bliss, which launched the Recycling Heroes campaign in 2012, reached a more than 50 percent diversion rate in 2018. All profits from the recycling program are used to benefit the Fort Bliss community through its Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation program. The post uses the funds to resurface playgrounds, purchase exercise equipment, and improve the quality of life for everyone on base. Since the program began, a total of $4 million has been awarded through the MWR program.
During the event, Fort Bliss also recognized its 38 Recycling Heroes, as well as presented a special America Recycles Day recycling award to Sgt. 1st Class George J. Johnson, from the 5th Armored Brigade, who was recognized for his proactive efforts to ensure recycling compliance throughout his unit and its work spaces.
“Heroic acts are not so easily seen or acknowledged when they are everyday acts that benefit the greater good,” said Lowman. “We are so pleased to acknowledge these everyday acts, taken by the Fort Bliss Recycling Heroes. This campaign is a perfect example of rewarding good stewardship behavior by recognizing Fort Bliss for pursuing a net zero waste future.”
One way the post identifies Recycling Heroes is through the “Grand Challenge,” a monthly recycling competition modeled after incentivized programs at other Army installations. The challenge invites units to monitor their own day-to-day recycling and waste habits.
Each quarter, the top unit receives $3,000 and is named the Grand Challenge winner. The winner is chosen based upon bi-weekly inspections. The units receive points for how well they are following the recycling program guidelines and sorting waste. Winning is not based on how much is recycled, but rather on recycling correctly.
“Today is a special time for our recycling heroes,” said Smythe. “Keep America Beautiful and the EPA have come together to recognize the hard work of our Soldiers – not only for what they do every day, but also for those who take that extra step to make recycling part of our mission readiness at Fort Bliss.”