CASE STUDY: Seymour Johnson Air Force Base
Location:
Industry:
Pollution Prevention Application:
Annual Savings:
Payback Period:
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Background
Waste Reduction
Activities
Goldsboro, NC (Wayne County)
Federal Military Installation (SIC: 9711)
Recycling Programs, Hazardous Material Control, Solvent
Substitution
$118,000
Immediate to 3.5 years
Judith L. Palmer, Environmental Engineer (919) 722-5168
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base (AFB), home of the 4th Fighter Wing, hosts
approximately 4,400 military and 1,200 civilian employees who maintain, operate,
or support 92 F-15E Strike Eagles and 10 KC-135 Stratotankers. The primary
mission of the 4th Fighter Wing is to ensure our country's defense bases. The
waste reduction program is a comprehensive effort to address wastes from a diverse
set of activities.
• Centrifuge
Previously, during JP-8 fuel spill cleanup operations, spilled fuel was removed using
absorbent pads that ere disposed of as hazardous waste. The base purchased an
industrial centrifuge, which effectively and efficiently separates the fuel product from
the absorbent, leaving the pads dry enough for reuse or disposal as a solid waste.
This reduced the total hazardous waste at the base by one third. All offspecification fuel reclaimed at Seymour Johnson AFB is shipped to Fort Bragg, NC,
for use as fuel in the heat plant, at no cost to the government. The cost of the
centrifuge has been offset by the elimination of hazardous waste disposal costs
associated with the used absorbent pads.
• Green Building
The new F-15E Squadron Operations facility is being constructed under Green
Building specifications. The AFB requires the contractor to divert 75% of
construction waste generated at the site from municipal landfills through recycling.
The building specifications also require that the contractor use recyclable products
in the construction of the building. The building contractor identified cost savings
of $98,113 based on an estimated 2695-ton reduction in construction waste. The
greatest savings were from abandoned concrete that was re-used for riprap, thus
avoiding disposal costs.
• Environmental Management Information System (EMIS)
EMIS is a centralized computer-based system used to control and track the use of
hazardous materials for the entire Air Force Base. EMIS also allows the user to
generate real-time data for required environmental reports.
• Paint
Excess paint and paint-related materials (except "industrial use only" materials) from
the AFB are donated to non-profit groups in the community. Waste paint that is
not donated is recycled through Safety Kleen.
1997 Case Study
SIC 9700 - p. _9_
• Fluorescent Bulb Crushing
Fluorescent bulbs, which contain mercury vapors, are considered hazardous waste.
In 1997, the AFB crushed 11,312 fluorescent bulbs and separated glass pieces from
recovered mercury vapors, thus eliminating the bulbs from the hazardous
waste stream. This effort saved approximately $6000 in 1997 hazardous waste
disposal costs.
• America Recycles Day
On the first national "America Recycles Day" in November 1997, the AFB
heightened awareness through a highly publicized contest to challenge military
families to recycle. Random searches were conducted in the family housing and
industrial dumpster areas to determine whether any recyclables were present. If
not, the “owner” received a prize package donated by the local community.
Another aspect of the celebration involved pledges signed by citizens to commit
themselves to recycling and buying recycled goods. The cost for the event was
minimal, but its impact was widespread.
• Used Oil
Used oil is collected throughout the base on an as-needed basis. With the “You
Call, We Haul” program, a pre-labeled replaced drum is left where used oil is
collected from any of the basewide shops. Yearly training is provided to the
approximately 200 accumulation point managers to ensure that they have the
knowledge to comply with storage requirements. In 1997, the used oil was
donated to Auburn University, which received 24,000 gallons from the AFB for
use in their heat plant.
• Composting Program
In 1997, 500,000 pounds of yard waste and scrap wood were collected from the
main base and military family housing areas for use as compost. The finished
product is used as a soil additive throughout the base, provided to military family
housing residents at no cost, and sold to off-base buyers.
• School Partnering
Base Environmental Flight personnel participated in “Family Science Night”, and
shared recycling ideas with kindergartners through eighth graders and their parents.
A fascinating evening, students and parents alike took an interest in practical
solutions to environmental resource reuse and recycling.
• Bioremediation Site
An ongoing initiative to combat the high volume and cost of petroleumcontaminated soil disposal is continuing at the bioremediation site. A windrow
and turning process constructed for the natural treatment of petroleumcontaminated soil combines locally acquired turkey manure with the contaminated
soils, encouraging the stimulation of microbes that break down the hydrocarbon
products. The site is permitted by the State, regularly inspected, and has a flawless
record for safety.
1997 Case Study
SIC 9700 - p. _10_
Waste Reduced
and Cost Savings
Table 1 below shows the waste reduced or diverted from traditional disposal
methods by programs at the Base, and the associated program costs and annual
savings, when known.
Table 1: Waste Reduced and Cost Savings by Program
Program
Material Diverted
from Disposal
Centrifuge
Hazardous waste
Green Building
Construction
debris diverted
from landfill
Paint and related
materials
Paint
Fluorescent
Bulb Crushing
Mercury-containing
bulbs (hazardous
waste)
Recycling
Household wastes
Used Oil
Used oil sent to
Auburn U. for
energy recovery
Yard waste and
scrap wood
diverted from
landfill
Composting
Total Annual
Savings
Other Activities
1997 Case Study
Quantity
Material
Diverted
20,000
pounds
2695 tons
Program
Costs
Savings
$32,500
N/A
N/A
11,312 bulbs
reduced to 8
drums glass
(non-haz.
waste)
N/A
N/A
$9300/year
Payback: 3.5 years
$98,113
in disposal costs
for the project
$1,844/year in
saved disposal
costs
$6,000/year in
saved disposal
costs
24,000
gallons
N/A
$61,000/year in
saved tipping fees;
$40,000/year in
revenue
Payback: 1 year
N/A
500,000
pounds
N/A
N/A
N/A
$100,000
$118,000/year
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base was recognized for Outstanding Achievement in
the Federal Government Category of the 1997 Governor’s Award for Excellence in
Waste Reduction competition.
SIC 9700 - p. _11_