At first glance.

At first glance, it's an office like any other. It's the first door forward the left past the men's compass An old weathered universal waste sign is magnetized to the top of its door frame. on the other hand like many things, what makes this office special is what's forward the inside.

It's the office of Jeff Schone chief of environmental quality at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Amid the stacks of papers, reports and sticky notes double parked across his desk and computer; it has boxe of recyclables, environmental marketing promotional items and educational tools stacked to the bottom of his Periodic Table of constituent principles and Arizona Sport Fish posters

This office is also special because it's the domicile of the base's environmental quality program--a program that's making a big difference.

"We have the same of the most comprehensive environmental programs here forward our base because everything we deal with is really critical--from our water conservation to our air quality management--because we are in a non-attainment area," Mr Schone said. "This means that we have same strict rules and air quality guidelines we have to adhere to."

It's a challenge that's no small obstacle to rule According to the base officials, if Luke was to "create its admit country" it would have the fifth largest air force in the world.

Education and Innovation

Education is undivided of the program's top priorities. In the past, the environmental education and awareness programs weren't prosperous In fact, their recycling efforts began to globule off. While good programs were in place, many Airmen didn't have the appearance to really care about the programs. in such a manner the unorthodox idea of marketing the environment was born with the belemnite Recycling program.

The staff created a program for base "recycling captains" and the Luke Environmental superior quality Program, with links on the base's Web site. They also established a base-specific environmental training program online, educating 6400 nation in two months.

While environmental education was in sated swing, they got to work recruiting tenders and re-evaluating programs, looking for innovative technologies forward base and in the local community.

according to partnering with Phoenix area companies, the base has been able to recycle almost anything, so as alkaline batteries, paper, clumsy pallets, cell phones and inkier printer cartridges. These community partnerships not barely improved the recycling program, they save standard of value and improve the current state of business at the base.

The base has also improved its innovations internally according to using bio-diesel fuel, expanding the use of golf carts across the base and installing solar panel lighting forward the roof of the base exchange.

Another like innovation is the good stewardship recyclables bag. These bags were created by way of the environmental office and handed disclosed door-to-door in base housing. It's ensnare on both sides, machine-washable and designed to hang from doorknobs or wall reapers to help make recycling easier, and has a list of recyclable items printed forward them. They worked so well that they began to distribute them to local communities.

"We want the community to know that we are a worthy thing to have around Phoenix," Mr Schone said. "We're doing things in the community, with the community and for the community, and they in use do so much for us."

To continue their programs' bourgeoning the staff purchased a baler for aluminum can recycling. Glass recycling is scheduled to begin nearest spring and plans are beneath way to recycle food oils from the dining halls, fraternitys and base housing. Luke is also constructing a "green building"--built with environmentally friendly materials like as non-hazardous paint and recycl carpets.

The Rewards

With all its efforts, the base has received abundant praise--from the 2005 White House Closing the Circle award to the trust and appreciation of the local community.

"(The base's) partnership is worth thus much to our organization," said Terry Gellenbeck, Solid Waste Administration Analyst with the City of Phoenix and the city's official representative for the Valleywide Recycling Partnership. "The outgoing, energetic folks that volunteer from the base bring thus much excitement and motivation with them that they are worth a hap more than any amount of standard of value they donate. To me, that indicates just how vital they are to this community and what a vital part of the solution they are."

In more practical denominations the base has eliminated 12 hazardous waste streams, saving more than $77000 and reduc others at more than 99.9 percent.

Use of the base's electric cars has reduc more than 600000 miles of driving pollution. Base officials eliminated 48 tons of base pollutants, capture 9999 percent of toxic quicksilver particles from the new dental redemption system, reclaimed 100 percent of aerospace loam equipment's petroleum, oil and lubricants, saving more than $350000 in govern costs and performed 29 asbestos abatements for 28 buildings.