Military Base Steps up To The Net Zero Challenge

Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington, near the city of Tacoma, is a beacon of sustainability among military bases across the US. With a population of over 139,000 (about 42,000 servicemembers, 54,000 family members, retirees and civilians), the base is the seventh-largest city in th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BioCycle 2015-06, Vol.56 (5), p.19-19
Main Author: Blazina, Ashley
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Army
Beacons
Composting
Cost control
Departments
Dynamical systems
Dynamics
Food waste
Initiatives
Landfill
Military bases
Recycling
Sustainability
Sustainable development
Yard waste
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Summary:Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) in western Washington, near the city of Tacoma, is a beacon of sustainability among military bases across the US. With a population of over 139,000 (about 42,000 servicemembers, 54,000 family members, retirees and civilians), the base is the seventh-largest city in the State of Washington, and has developed dynamic systems for composting, construction materials reuse, recycling and energy efficiency that rival the "greenest" metropolises in the US. The groundwork for JBLM's Sustainability initiatives was laid in 2001, when the then-Fort Lewis was asked by Army Headquarters to help develop the Army's Sustainability Program by refining processes on the base. This two-part article focuses primarily on JBLM's zero waste initiatives -- specifically organics recycling and composting. Part I covers the programs established to source separate organics. Part II reports on JBLM's composting operation, as well as the innovative techniques the base uses to promote compost utilization.
ISSN:0276-5055