Operation Chill Out

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Tiffany DeNault
  • 21st Space Wing Public Affairs
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Agencies on Peterson were given the chance to turn in refrigerators that did not meet building code requirements through a unique recycling program.

"Operation Chill Out is the 21st Space Wing effort to turn in refrigerators that were identified as being non-compliant electrically," said Phil Chase, 21st Space Wing Civil Engineer Squadron environmental program manager. "It's our effort to help out and get the unsafe, excess material off base so we're not putting personnel in jeopardy."

The second Operation Chill Out was conducted Nov. 18 and the first Chill Out was Nov. 4. Out of the 40 refrigerators identified as non-compliant, nine were turned in during the first event and seven were turned in during the second.

The 21st Space Wing conducted a refrigerator inventory at the six installations it operates in September and October at the request of the 14th Air Force. The ones that did not meet the building code requirements were required to be turned into the 21st CES Environmental Office.

The inventory requirement was based on a mishap that occurred at a 14th AF unit where a non-compliant refrigerator caught fire resulting in operational impacts.

"The government-issued refrigerators will go to the Defense Logistics Agency," said David Anderson, 21st CES environmental program manager. "For the non-government ones we will remove the Freon or other refrigerants in them, dismantle them and sell them for scrap metal."

Recycling everything that can be recycled means less re-useable material will go to a landfill, especially all the copper and metal parts found in a refrigerator.

"It's a good program. We are going to use the proceeds from the qualified recycling program to pay for the purging of the gas or recycling of the refrigerators that we have to pay for," stated Chase. "We are disposing the refrigerators at no cost to the government."

Environmental quality remains one of the highest priorities for the 21st SW as evidenced by the program. The wing also dedicates itself to environmental leadership by demonstrating innovative improvement of processes to prevent and reduce waste generation.

For more information on the Peterson AFB Recycling Yard call 556-7707. The yard is open 24 hours/7 days a week and is located behind building 1324 at the corner of Ent Avenue and Goodfellow Street. For information on El Paso County recycling, call 520-7878.

 

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