Recycling for dollars
Recycling for dollars
Recycling for dollars
Recycling for dollars

Installation Qualified Recycling Program offers units, directorates, monetary incentive

Story by Jacqueline Hill | Fort Bragg Garrison PAO

Did you know that Fort Bragg has a recycling program that not only benefits the installation but can also benefit your individual unit?
The Qualified Recycling Program offers units, directorates and tenant organizations the opportunity to actively participate in an incentive-based recycling program that provides a monetary voucher in exchange for contributions of recyclable material. The program tracks the weights of the recycled items which are tallied at the end of each quarter.
“The prices used for calculating a voucher are much higher than market values for the materials,” said David Heins, chief of the Environmental Division for the Directorate of Public Works. “This keeps units involved in recycling while also providing business opportunities to DFMWR (Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation).”
According to the program’s Memorandum of Instruction, organizations reaching the $100 threshold in any quarter will have a voucher issued.
It further states if an organization does not reach the $100 threshold, the amount in the account rolls over into the next quarter until $100 is reached. Vouchers can only be used at Department of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities, such as the Clay Target Center, Equipment Check-out Center, McKellar’s Lodge, and the Divot.
Vouchers must be used within one year of the issue date. Exceptions can be made for extending vouchers, such as deploying units. They must also be used at an activity that is open to all members of the contributing activity, such as unit organization days.
Recyclable material is accepted at the Recycling Center, located at building 3-1240, in the DPW compound near the intersection of Reilly and Butner roads. Hours for the recycling center are from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
“It is essential that participants understand the importance of recycling not only the incentivized items but all recyclable material,” said James Duncan, Environmental Protection specialist, DPW.
Acceptable recycling items include shredded office paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
Current payouts for materials are as follows: aluminum equals $1 per pound; plastics equal 50 cents per pound; shredded paper and cardboard equal $25 per 2,000 pounds.
Other items the recycling center can accept, but do not contribute towards unit recycling dollars, are brass, steel, copper, glass, batteries, oil filters, electric motors, coils, nickel, mixed wire, printer cartridges, household electronics and cooking oil.
Government electronics or military items on property books need to be turned into the Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services for proper recycling and disposal.
“When we recycle, the amount of waste sent to landfills is reduced,” Duncan said. “Recycling reduces the need for refining, processing and extracting, i.e. mining, quarrying and logging, raw materials all of which create substantial air and water pollution.”
On Fort Bragg all municipal solid waste, construction and demolition waste are hauled off the installation and disposed of in approved facilities.
“Using recycled materials in the manufacturing process uses considerably less energy than that required for producing new products from raw materials and also reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” Duncan explained.
The Longstreet Landfill, which holds municipal solid waste, closed in May 2001. Lamont Landfill, which accepted construction and demolition material, stopped accepting waste in December 2015. However, it continues to maintain the dumpster pad, where roll-off dumpsters for disposal are stationed and then hauled off the installation by the refuse contract. All other operations at the Lamont Landfill are recycling areas such as the scrap metal pile.
QRP sale revenues are used to cover operating and program costs. Additionally, it reimburses the program’s use of installation operation and maintenance funds.
The MOI also lays out that if a balance remains, the garrison may use up to 50% of the available funds for pollution abatement, pollution prevention, energy conservation, alternative-fueled vehicle infrastructure support, and occupational safety and health projects.
Any remaining proceeds may be transferred to DFMWR and can be used on additional projects that will benefit the community. RECYCLING

Photo by Isaac Peterson | WAMC

Lt. Col. Steven Robins cases the colors of the Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion during the deactivation ceremony. The former Fort Bragg WTB has now been restructured to be the Fort Bragg Soldier Recovery Unit.

WTB restructures to Soldier Recovery Unit

Story by Twana Atkinson | WAMC PAO

The Fort Bragg Warrior Transition Battalion participated in a change of command ceremony on June 26, with the outgoing commander Lt. Col. Steven Robins and incoming commander Lt. Col. Calvin Knox.
Prior to that ceremony, the WTB was formally deactivated and the Soldier Recovery Unit was activated.
The Army announced Nov. 5, 2019, the restructuring of its Warrior Care and Transition Program and was formally recognized as the Army Recovery Care Program.
Beginning March of this year, the Warrior Transition Battalions have begun to restructure and re-designate as Soldier Recovery Units.
“Though our name is changing from Warrior Transition Battalion to the Soldier Recovery Unit, our mission remains to aid our wounded, ill & injured Soldiers; navigate the medical enterprise in order to enable Fort Bragg’s tenant units’ readiness,” said Maj Jeremy Brooks, the WTB battalion operations officer.
One of the key parts of the restructure is the implementation of a single entry criteria.
The SRU entry criteria states that a Soldier has, or is anticipated to receive, a profile of more than six months, with duty limitations that prevent the Soldier from training or contributing to unit mission accomplishments.
The SRU’s three primary platoons are Complex Care, Veteran Track and Return to Duty. This restructuring will simplify and streamline policies, remove barriers, and tailor services to fit the unique needs of every Soldier.
As of Aug. 12, 2019, there were almost 2,500 Soldiers assigned to the WCT. The population was 55% Active Duty, 27% National Guard, and 18% Reserve.
Currently, there are two distinct eligibility criteria to enter a WTU. One is specific to the active component and based on a complex care requirement and a six-month treatment timeline. The other is specific to the reserve components and based on a definitive care requirement and 30-day treatment timeline.
SRUs will provide remote case management for Army Reserve Soldiers and the Army National Guard will remotely manage National Guard Soldiers. The remote management option is specifically designed to provide medical and administrative management to Soldiers that do not meet single entry criteria but are entitled to evaluation and treatment while remaining on active duty orders.
“The Fort Bragg SRU remains committed to taking care of Soldiers, regardless of how they are injured or become ill in the line of duty, who meet the entry criteria,” Brooks said.
The new entry criteria became effective July 1, 2020. WTUs began the transition to SRUs in March 2020 and are estimated to be fully operational under the new structure, policy and processes by October 2020.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

News

EOD Soldier selected for Gen. MacArthur award

Story by Gary Sheftick | Army News Service
FORT MEADE, Md. — The company that Capt. Katie Nisbet commands may only have 33 Soldiers, but it delivers a big bang. She commands the 722nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company at Fort Bragg. MACARTHUR

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Heroic Soldier's WWI story told in digital comic

Story by Eric Durr | New York National Guard
LATHAM, N.Y. – Sgt. Henry Johnson, the Albany resident whose World War I service in the New York National Guard’s 369th Infantry Regiment was recognized with the Medal of Honor almost a century later, is now the subject of a digital comic. COMIC

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Quantum networks moving step closer to reality

Article by U.S. Army CCDC Army Research Laboratory PA
Adelphi, Md. — Army researchers developed a new way to protect and safeguard quantum information, moving quantum networks a step closer to reality. Quantum information science is a rapidly growing interdisciplinary field. QUANTUM

Community

Bragg leaders update city officials on key topics

Story by Ashley Pataka | Army.mil
Senior Army leaders from Fort Bragg spoke with the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Council June 24 during a virtual “command performance” that updated business officials and civic leaders on recent events and key topics. BRAGG

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

How to properly dispose of worn-out US flags

Story by Katie Lange | Defense.gov
WASHINGTON — Many Americans proudly fly the U.S. flag at their homes and places of work, but what do you do with it when it's old and ratty and you're ready for a new one? Don't just throw it in the trash — that's considered disrespectful. FLAGS

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Summer reading program helps bridge learning gap

Article by MilitaryOneSource
Reading jumpstarts the imagination. It can open the door to new places and points of view. And gaining access to reading programs and materials has never been easier. The DOD-MWR Summer Reading Program is available virtually from your home. READING

Health and Wellness

PCSING: No worries, TRICARE moves too

Article by TRICARE
Does your Family have permanent change of station, or PCS, orders to move to a new location this summer? Don’t worry, your TRICARE coverage moves with you. However, moving may change your TRICARE health care options. MOVES

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

APHC offers summer safety tips for Families, home

Story by Douglas Holl | Army Public Heath Center
ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — One of the benefits of long summer days around your home is the opportunity to soak up the sun, enjoy the outdoors, cool off in the pool and master one's grilling techniques. SAFETY

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Encourage new recruit preparing for basic training

Article by Military OneSource
The myth that nothing gets a person into shape faster than boot camp is just that — a myth. The truth is, the hard work of getting fit starts long before basic training. Preparing for military training is a recruit’s responsibility, but friends and family play a role. RECRUIT

Recycling for dollars

Recycling for dollars

Recycling for dollars

Recycling for dollars

Installation Qualified Recycling Program offers units, directorates, monetary incentive

WTB restructures to Soldier Recovery Unit

News

EOD Soldier selected for Gen. MacArthur award

Heroic Soldier's WWI story told in digital comic

Quantum networks moving step closer to reality

Community

Bragg leaders update city officials on key topics

How to properly dispose of worn-out US flags

Summer reading program helps bridge learning gap

Health and Wellness

PCSING: No worries, TRICARE moves too

APHC offers summer safety tips for Families, home

Encourage new recruit preparing for basic training