39th CES hosts HAZMAT turn-in

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Eboni Reams
  • 39th Air Base Wing
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  The 39th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental management office hosted a hazardous waste turn-in day at building 202 for dorm residents and building 438 for base housing residents and wing organizations Oct. 10, here.

Many chemicals used on a daily basis are hazardous to the environment and the people around them, and they need to be properly disposed of once the agents are no longer needed. In the midst of Incirlik Air Base's second Energy Action Month, the 39th CES stepped up to volunteer to correctly sort, distribute and purge the community's hazardous waste.

The mass collection of the community's hazardous waste is not intended to alter the plan of action already put in place to properly dispose of these products, but to take a little pressure off our community and lend a helping hand.

"We are collecting extra HAZMAT from organizations around base in addition to dorm and housing residents," said Diondrae White, 39th CES chief of environmental engineering. "Once we collect these items, the waste will be sorted and properly disposed of using Defense Logistics Agency Distribution services."

Common daily-use items such as furniture polish, paint and batteries can't always just be tossed in the garbage bin for disposal. This event gave people a chance to let the 39th CES environmental management office do the work.

"In the midst of an EAM, this event is an awesome initiative to ensure we properly dispose a large amount of hazardous waste, as well as save time and money with the costs associated with this action," said Capt. Thomas Sena, 39th CES director of operations.

Not all items turned in will be thrown away. Some items will be reissued to others who can use the materials.

"During the sorting process, if items are still useable with the proper shelf life, they will be readily available to be used by base organizations," explained White.
The 39th CES will host this event again in November, collecting hazardous waste and holiday cooking oils.

For more information contact the 39th CES environmental management office at 676-3787.