Base tracks green goals Published Jan. 16, 2015 By Jenny Gordon Robins Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Robins has been working hard to minimize its environmental footprint by annually tracking its environmental management goals. According to a 2012 Air Force policy on achieving efficiencies through pollution prevention and waste elimination, several goals were established to assist the AF with environmental improvements. While individual installations haven't been tasked with independent goals, Robins is doing its share by tracking six areas through its Environmental Management System which is used to manage environmental programs here. The Robins' EMS is tracking goals related to hazardous waste disposal; solid waste and landfill disposal; Toxic Release Inventory, or TRI, chemicals; ozone depleting substances; the diversion of construction and demolition debris from landfills; and the Qualified Recycling Program. Air Force-wide goals include diverting 55 percent by weight of non-hazardous solid waste from landfill disposal by 2015, 60 percent by 2018 and 65 percent by 2020; and reducing TRI chemicals by 35 percent by 2020 from a 2006 baseline, with an interim goal of achieving 20 percent reduction by 2015. Team Robins is working to preserve its environment and reduce hazardous materials for the safety of employees and the community. Ozone depleting substances include commonly used refrigerants and chemicals used in fire extinguishers. The TRI is a publicly available database containing information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities. With help from federal regulations and manufacturing restrictions, Robins has reduced ozone-depleting-substances use by more than 76 percent. The base is less than 25 percent away from eliminating harmful refrigerant by the 2030 timeframe. Robins has an obligation to report TRI chemicals to the Georgia Environmental Protection Division yearly. Reports indicate a 23 percent decrease - meeting and exceeding this year's goal. Diverting construction and demolitions debris from landfills is dependent on construction efforts throughout the year. For example, Bldg. 792, a building formerly used as an Airman dormitory, was demolished in 2014. In monitoring recycling activities and increasing awareness, the percentage rose to 87.2 percent in fiscal 2014, exceeding the 2020 goal. Robins is currently diverting almost 40 percent of solid waste going to local landfills through recycling efforts with a goal of diverting 55 percent by the end of 2015. Additionally, the base Qualified Recycling Program generated more than $462,000 in fiscal 2014, once again exceeding the established goal of $370,000. "Overall Robins is doing very well, but there are always things we can do to improve," said Kimberly Mullins, EMS Coordinator, "Purchasing environmentally friendly products increases worker and environmental safety; recycling helps the community; turning off your vehicle preserves the air quality. Being environmentally conscious will protect you and the environment." Improvement efforts are rooted in awareness which is achieved through the Air Force-required EMS General Awareness Training available on the Advanced Distributed Learning Service, communication with Mission Partners and positive working relationships with regulators. Everyone at Robins is required to take the EMS General Awareness Training to understand and recognize that every job at Robins has the potential to impact the environment. Senior Leaders from across the base meet regularly as part of the Environmental Safety and Occupational Health Council to discuss compliance issues and approve environmental goals.