Robins unit tops in DoD for green efforts Published April 26, 2013 By Staff Reports Robins AIr FOrce Base Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE Ga. -- The 78th Civil Engineer Group at Robins has won the Department of Defense's Environmental Quality - Industrial Installation Award for 2012. The award recognizes the environmental program at a heavily industrialized post or base which ranks above others in a number of areas, including air quality, hazardous materials and waste management, pollution prevention, green procurement, natural resources, restoration and water quality. "This is a great accomplishment for Team Robins," said Col. Mitchel Butikofer, Installation commander. "We understand the importance of a healthy and safe environment and are committed to ensuring compliance with all environmental procedures." The awards honor outstanding achievements and innovative environmental practices and partnerships that promote quality of life and increasing efficiencies without compromising mission success. Among the unit's notable achievements was a successful Qualified Recycling Program - a two-time winner of Air Force Materiel Command's QRP Award. During fiscal 2012, the program recycled more than 2,000 tons of recyclable materials, diverted 53 percent solid waste from landfills and generated more than $960,000 in total revenue. Additionally, the base groundwater treatment plant was the first industrial wastewater treatment facility in Georgia to receive the National Association of Clean Water Agencies' Platinum Award. The plant has removed more than 34,900 pounds of contaminants from water on the installation.This is the first time the base has won the DoD award. However, its commitment to environmental excellence has shown through receipt of many other recent environmental honors, including its 20th consecutive Tree City USA Award and the Air Force Gen. Thomas D. White Award - Environmental Quality in the industrial category.