Going green? Look for the blue bin Published Sept. 2, 2008 By Airman 1st Class Elliott Sprehe 27th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. -- If you're a base housing resident, you may have noticed the reappearance of the blue recycling bins recently as the base's recycling program is back in effect. The temporary suspension of the program was due to very low numbers of people assigned to the base and reduced number of housing occupants, according to Ronald Lancaster, 27th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron. "Fortunately, the base population is growing and new housing residents are settling in; as a result, the recycling efforts have resumed," said Lancaster. "I'm extremely happy," said Jeannie Preciado-Bushnell, of the base community center and also a military dependent. "Being able to turn yesterday's rubbish into tomorrow's product helps reduce the human footprint." There are no major changes to the recycling program. Recyclables are collected on scheduled trash collection days in military family housing, and base personnel are invited and encouraged to set out their recyclables on Wednesday morning. "If the program picks up like it was before and people take more than just a glance in the recycling direction, it will prosper," said Preciado-Bushnell. Some of the materials that are recyclable through Cannon's program include, but are not limited to: paper products, corrugated cardboard, plastics stamped with a #1 PETE or a #2 HDPE, glass containers of all colors, aluminum cans, and yard waste/tree limbs. When recycling, Preciado-Bushnell's trash was "down to one bag a week. We were able to recycle almost everything going out." "The benefits of recycling are long-term and important to our children's future," said Lancaster. "The reduction of waste to the landfills has positive effects lasting well beyond our lifetime." As a federal facility, Cannon Air Force Base is required to divert waste in accordance with regulation and presidential order. The average American generates about 7.5 pounds of waste each day, said Lancaster, so people should "be an example. Use recycling receptacles instead of trash cans. Keep an eye out for trash cans full of recyclables and move them to the blue bin." The blue bins should be located in or nearby personnel's work area allowing people to recycle the majority of things used in the office. "As everyone sees the blue bins again, we're experiencing a positive response," said Lancaster. For more recycling facts, go to www.americarecyclesday.org.