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Gen. Mike Minihan, Commander of Air Mobility Command, visits the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station June 8, 2024.

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Going "green" at the CAC

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Matthew Burke
  • 914th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. --  The 914th Civil Engineer-Environmental (CEV) Office in conjunction with the Dining Facility here recently concluded a six-month pilot program for composting of pre-consumer food waste at the Community Activity Center.

NFARS focused on pre-consumer scraps, which are produced in the initial food preparation, rather than post-consumer, produced after personnel have finished a meal. Examples of pre-consumer waste collected include fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells, and bread. Although this list is somewhat limited, it was dictated by the types of waste accepted by the local off-base composting facility. 

"This program was designed to divert reusable and beneficial waste away from being disposed into a landfill," said Kim Powell, Environmental Engineer for the 914th Mission Support Group/CEV. "The Air Force strongly encourages composting as a means of waste diversion. On-base composting was explored however, it was determined to not be a viable option due to relatively low waste volumes generated and the cost of manpower to operate such a process. Until recently off-base commercial composting facilities were non-existent. So when the opportunity for the base to participate in a composting pilot program arose, we were willing to give it a try."

Kitchen scraps were collected by the CAC staff in dedicated containers at their work stations and then at the end of each day the containers were emptied into totes similar to those used for paper and mixed recyclables. Once a week a civilian contractor picked up the totes in a specialized organics waste collection truck and transported the waste to an off-base composting facility.  Weight data was collected and used in calculations to monitor the base's waste diversion rates.

By composting, NFARS can help reduce the waste that would normally end up in a landfill by diverting valuable waste resources to compost.

"We're keeping beneficial resources out of landfill space and converting them into a reusable format," said Powell. "Those resources can then be used in different ways, such as a soil amendment for vegetation." 

Although the results of the pilot program determined that this particular program was not sustainable, Powell and the 914 MSG/CEV will continue to explore unique possibilities to ensure NFARS remains at the forefront of recycling initiatives in the future. 

"Based on the data obtained to date, it does not appear that (NFARS) generates enough pre-consumer compostable waste to justify the costs associated with segregating and composting the waste," said Powell. "Although a composting program may not be implemented in the long-term here on base at this time, it was a great initiative opportunity to explore a new way to reduce the base's impact on the environment."