AFIT’s Civil Engineer and Services School is proud to offer a new course to help meet the Department of Defense’s need to provide education for its installation recycling program managers. The DoD has placed considerable emphasis on reducing solid waste and reducing the amount of material that goes to landfills. Having an effective installation recycling program can go a long way towards meeting this goal. Effective recycling saves the Air Force money in hauling and landfill fees.

This new course was originally funded and developed by the Army using a contractor, with input from the other military branches. As the course neared completion, the Army was forced to cut training funds and was unable to offer the course. In an effort to save the course, the InterService Environmental Education Review Board asked the Civil Engineer and Services School to add it to the AFIT curriculum and provide it to members of all military branches.

The new course, officially known as WENV 160 - Qualified Recycling Program Management, is a four-day resident class that is offered twice a year and features guest speakers from each military branch. Though all federal agencies have a requirement to provide recycling or participate in an existing area recycling program, each program is operated in a slightly different manner. This is what makes the program interesting and, in turn, provides an excellent opportunity to share ideas and provide a cross-feed of valuable information. Both students and guest speakers from around the world can exchange ideas and share tips that have helped make their programs successful.