Recycle cans, win some cash!

  • Published
  • By Jerron Barnett
  • Eglin Environmental Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  Looking for a way to fund your squadron's upcoming holiday party or event? Look no further, recycle your unit's aluminum cans and win up to $500 in the aluminum can recycling contest!

The Eglin Recycling Center will start its third annual aluminum can recycling contest in celebration of America Recycles Day 2007 on Tuesday.

The contest will run until Nov. 15, America Recycles Day, which is known as the annual start date of the national campaign that encourages Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products.

All Eglin organizations are encouraged to participate and participation is voluntary. Each organization must assign a point of contact and each participating organization must provide the number of personnel assigned to their unit.

Units will transport cans to the Eglin Recycling Center where they will be compacted and weighed by recycling center personnel. The weight will be added to each participating organization's running tally. Winners will be determined by total weight of cans collected divided by the number of personnel in the organization.

The first, second and third place organizations will win $500, $300, $200 cash prizes, respectively. Final contest results will be announced on November 18.

Michael Vannoy, Eglin's recycling program manager, believes the contest is an excellent way to encourage recycling on Eglin as well as maintain Eglin's compliance with the Department of Defense's mandate that all installations must recycle and purchase recycled products as much as possible.

"We've had good participation from Eglin units during the two previous contests, and we would like to see more organizations participate this year," Mr. Vannoy said. "It's a great opportunity to help protect our environment and score some cash for the unit."

Reeling in this extra cash helped last year's winners, the Airmen of the 96th Ground Combat Training Squadron, to provide a free holiday party for their unit in 2006.

"We are excited to participate in this year's contest, as a free holiday party is always well-received," Master Sgt. Ann Kilinski, 96th GCTS NCOIC of logistics, said.

For more information about the recycling contest or to sign up, contact Mr. Vannoy at 882-1856 or Mike Gilliam at 882-7662.