As America’s Earth Day celebrated its 40th anniversary this year, Navy Whidbey Recycle also reached major milestones: completing 20 years of successful recycling and 10 years of composting. In a year of landmark dates and achievements, Navy Whidbey Island’s Compost Facility has added another first with receipt of the “Leadership in Organics Recovery” award from the Washington State Organics Recycling Council otherwise known as “WORC”

Presented at the WORC annual conference on Dec. 9 in Ellensburg, Wash., the leadership award acknowledges the accomplishments of Navy Whidbey Recycle in expanding the station’s organics recycling program, and mentoring others about their programs.

The air station’s compost program significantly contributes to the success of Navy Whidbey Recycle. Organic materials make up over half of the 6,022 tons recycled here during fiscal year 2010. Earning more than $729,000 under the Navy Working Capital Fund system this year, composting saved more than $500,000 in cost avoidance in expending funds for disposal and trucking costs. 

Leadership teams visiting the base facilities on behalf of Commander, Naval Installations Command, consider NAS Whidbey Island to have the Navy’s premier recycling facility with its star attraction: the in-vessel composting facility. More and more, queries are received from other Navy bases asking how they can cut their solid waste tonnage and produce cost savings for their commands.

Fact-finding teams from Delta, B.C. in Canada, have brought dozens of visitors to the compost facility. They are ready to open an in-vessel compost facility and beginning the planning, contract award phase for a second plant. 

The compost facility team is constantly refining processes and working with commands and activities to increase recycling opportunities.

“A great example is the active composting program underway in Navy Exchange snack bars,” said Paul Brewer, solid waste program manager for Navy Whidbey Recycle.

“Begun on Earth Day 2009, the NEX now uses only compostable containers, table and flatware, significantly reducing their volume of trash and doubling the compost weights collected from NEX facilities,” said Brewer, adding “As we decrease the volume of non-compostable take-out containers and flatware used by base food establishments, the compost weights will increase.

Within the military recycling community, Navy Whidbey Recycle has taken on a leadership role. Beginning with active mentorships of the Navy programs the Pacific Northwest, regional networking has expanded across Washington State to become the Department of Defense Recycle Team. This group includes Navy Region Northwest, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, and U.S. Coast Guard Seattle Sector.

Outreach efforts have included speaking at local events like the regional Biosolids Summit in Oak Harbor, Wash., hosted by Island County and providing composting collection for large scale public events like the Whidbey Island Marathon and Earth Day activities.

“We are very pleased to have received this award; now we’re taking the next step towards office organics composting,” said Brewer. “It (the award) helps highlight how important this program is to our environment.”