Efforts by the Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) Environmental Program Office (EPO) Recycling Program were recognized by the Industrial Environmental Association (IEA) October 1 with presentation of the IEA's Environmental Excellence Award during the annual Environmental Training Symposium and Conference.
FRCSW's EPO is a branch of the Industrial Environmental Competency and oversees the command's environmental programs ensuring compliance of state, local and federal regulatory requirements.
In July 2019, the EPO Recycling Program collaborated with Naval Base Coronado Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) and Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) to remove recyclable items and scrap aircraft parts from FRCSW spaces.
Production Activity Control Division Branch Manager Henry Kaminski led the clean-up effort for the aircraft parts.
The on-going project generated a cost savings of more than $140 million during Fiscal Years 2019 and 2020.
Further, the EPO Recycling Program closed its location adjacent to Building 250 in approximately three months. The area since transitioned to a DLA facility.
To manage the project, the recycling program adopted the 5S method of FRCSWs AIRSpeed initiative. AIRSpeed is a set of continuous process improvement tools in use at the command for about 15 years. 5S is a five-step approach to organizational management by establishing standards to achieve consistency in a workplace location.
The project also referred to the command's International Organization for Standardization (ISO) ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) to assess bottlenecks and similar issues within operations in need of improvement.
The ISO 14001 was created to help organizations improve environmental awareness and performance, and prevent pollution.
The recycling project kicked off in Building 463 with the removal of three truckloads of aircraft parts and electronics.
Scrap aircraft parts and equipment must be processed through DLAs Defense Reutilization Marketing Office (DRMO) for de-militarization, as DLA is the only authority to make that determination.
In total, more than 158,000 items have been transported by 43 semi-trucks and 18 stake trucks to DRMO for processing.
Furthermore, about 530 various aircraft parts with an estimated $100,000 recycling cost savings were sent to the Stricken Aircraft Reclamation and Disposal Program (SARDIP).
Currently, 100 pallets and 21 crates of scrap aircraft parts totaling approximately $35,000 in cost savings are in process with DRMO, along with 131 tires valued at $1,000 in cost savings.
Material received by DRMO is valued by the piece, with DLA providing a dollar amount.
Meanwhile, FRCSW uses recycling facilities at Naval Bases San Diego and Coronado.
"We will continue to use the DRMO/DLA recycling yard at Naval Base San Diego and ship our recyclables and computer peripherals there until something else changes," Buckman said. "The old DRMO yard that is now NAVFAC at North Island will be used for scrap metal, appliances, file cabinets, lockers and a few other items."
Working with FRCSWs Information Technology Department, the EPO recycling project also created a SharePoint website in FY 19 to accommodate command-wide recycling efforts.
The website covers recycling and disposal procedures for scrap and precious metals, glass, wood, paper shredding, and items typically found in the workspaces including furniture, appliances, and hazardous waste.
This year's Environmental Training Symposium and Conference was held in conjunction with the California Manufacturers and Technology Association (CMTA). The IEA and CMTA advocate for the improvement of environmental compliance and the business atmosphere of Southern California's manufacturing and technology organizations.
Editors Note: FRCSW would like to acknowledge the following teammates who played an integral role in the development and success of the EPO Recycling Project: Information technology specialists Brent Asten, Andy Avila and Angie Lind (retired); DRMO/SARDIP Production Controller Supervisor Kristin Shott; production controllers Breahna Jones and Anthony Stanford; industrial support coordinators Thomas Pachucki and Michael Mueca; environmental engineer Heather Hardenberg; environmental protection specialists Ray May and Raymond Buckman; and Production Activity Control Division Branch Manager Henry Kaminski (retired).