Y-12 finds ways to recycle (and help the community to boot)

Larry Sparks, DOE site representative, and Todd Butz, Y-12 plant manager, observe the work of an employee at Dunn Diversified Industries.

Walton, Y-12 facility operations specialist, and Irwin, of Y-12's waste management and pollution prevention group, are about as well-versed as you can get in innovative approaches to recycling.

Not only does Walton head Y-12's aluminum beverage can recycling that has donated more than $46,000 to local charities and kept 3.5 million cans out of the landfill, he also has worked with Irwin to collaborate with the community to help out a very special organization while solving Y-12 recycling challenges.

Their most recent community outreach involved working with Dunn Diversified Industries (DDI), a private non-profit group that employs adults with mental disabilities. Lockheed Martin and DDI worked together to recycle $9 million in old hand tools and gauges, resulting in an estimated cost saving of more than $900,000. The project is credited for saving 20 tons of waste from landfill space.

The cost for plant laborers to remove company and DOE identifying markings on old, unneeded hand tools was determined to be more expensive than the tools were worth. However, DDI was able to provide the service at a minimal cost so the surplus equipment could then be donated to schools or sold.

The duo's good deeds aren't limited to just one recycling project. Tasked about a year ago with disposing of some 25,000 outdated journals and reference resources, they creatively did so by handing the project over to DDI, where workers removed recyclable pages from the book covers, keeping 50,000 pounds of paper out of the Y-12 landfill.

"After we got some publicity on that project with Dunn Diversified, some wheels started cranking among the good people at Y-12 and several more recycling projects were suggested that would work well for community outreach," Walton said.

"Because Lockheed Martin is so large, the possibilities for projects that could benefit us both are almost unlimited," said Melanie Harmon, DDI manager. "We appreciate employees who keep us in mind and alert us to potential work projects. DDI employees perform routine, repetitive handwork such as assembly, packaging, sewing, collation, sandblasting and woodwork,"

Among other projects that have followed was the recycling of personal protective clothing no longer needed at Y-12. DDI workers unpacked boxes of clothing, removed company and DOE labels and repacked the clothes. These materials were donated to Savannah River Site, who then sent them to the Ukraine for workers to use in environmental cleanup. About 10 tons of landfill space was saved.

Yet another project recycled five skids of old carbon paper forms. DDI employees removed the carbon from the recyclable white paper, keeping about five tons of waste from the landfill.

These recycling projects have resulted in combined cost savings of about $950,000 and have kept 60-some tons of waste from the landfill. Of greatest value are the jobs the projects have provided to the special workers at DDI. The Y-12 recycling work has helped train an average of 10 DDI staff for more than a year, Harmon said.

"Dunn has been fortunate to work with Lockheed Martin since the early '80s. The projects have offered mentally retarded adults the opportunity to develop work skills and behaviors that will help them get and keep jobs in integrated work sites in their communities, which is the mission of DDI," said Harmon.

Employees with suggestions about other recycling projects that could benefit both Y-12 and the community may contact Ron Walton at 576-8388 or waltonrm@ornl.gov. —T.M.P.