Warren showcases conservation efforts - Air Force demonstrates land stewardship during Earth Day 2011

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Daryl Knee
  • 90th Missile Wing Public Affairs
F. E. WARREN AIR FORCE BASE, Wyo. --  As part of Earth Day 2011, sixth-grade students from Cheyenne's Freedom Elementary School visited here April 21 to learn about the Air Force's conservation and preservation efforts.

"The students were already learning about these topics in school," said Tammy Notch, 90th Civil Engineer Squadron pollution prevention manager. "And to see the techniques in action reinforced their education,"

The tour included Warren's recycling center, campground, wind farm and lake pavilion. At each stop, the 90th CES's environmental team spoke about stewardship and the role Air Force Global Strike Command bases play in Earth Day.

"The resources for disposal on Earth are finite," said Andy McKinley, 90th CES environmental element chief. "If we're not responsible, we could run out of space to put our trash."

That trash has to go somewhere, said John Nunley, 90th CES resource efficiency manager. Prior to the recent global push for conservation, Americans regularly burned their trash.

"People would dig a hole, bury the trash and burn it," he continued. "It wasn't that we were bad stewards, it was just that society as a whole did not have the fundamental education or understanding about conservation or preservation."

Now, the Air Force's stance is reduce, reuse and recycle, Ms. Notch said. The three ideas represent a way to minimize waste output. As an example -- reduce waste by turning off electricity when not in a room; reuse materials by creating compost; and recycle by incorporating discarded items into new products.

"We don't have to cut down trees to make new paper," she said. "We can reuse old paper -- anything to lessen our mark on the environment.

"Our goal is to educate at a young age," she added. "We're trying to reinforce these principles to become a daily habit to change the culture."

The Air Force, as a whole, is an excellent steward of the environment, Mr. McKinley said, and by participating in Earth Day, Warren is doing its part to ensure a transition into the future.

Founded in 1970, Earth Day now includes more than 1 billion participants in 192 countries. For more information, visit the Earth Day Network's website at http://www.earthday.org