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Haz Mat Management Program
The Program provides Air Force installations with a standard way to manage hazardous materials (HAZMAT) procurement and to comply with ESOH requirements. The pharmacy is a means of turning in partially used HAZMATs which can then be used by others who require only small quantities. To protect the environment and the safety and health of potentially affected workers and communities this program was created to encourage source reduction hazardous wastes at Andrews AFB.
The objectives of the hazmat Pharmacy Program are:
- Support accomplishment of Air Force missions while minimizing HAZMAT usage
- Provide standardized HAZMAT service to the customer
- Issue HAZMAT in the smallest quantities required to support authorized mission requirements
- Ensure HAZMAT issue and usage conform to all appropriate ESOH requirements
- Track HAZMAT by process and facility location
- Enter all required HAZMAT data into an approved tracking system [Air Force Environmental Information Management System (AF-EMIS)]
- Provide HAZMAT data to support Air Force requirements.
- Minimize dependence on HAZMAT
The Program is located at Base Supply (Building 3066). If you have questions about the Program contact 89CES/CEV, Pollution Prevention Program manager at (301) 981-3472.
Source Reduction
Source Reduction is accomplished through programs such as the HAZMART Pharmacy and the Hazardous Material Management Process Team (HMMP). Examples of Source Reduction are:
- Implementing hazardous materials pharmacies to better manage the purchase, handling, use, and disposal of the hazardous materials.
- Marketing used oils instead of disposing as hazardous waste
- Using water-based paints instead of more hazardous lacquer-based paints
- Substitution of hazardous materials with "environmentally friendly" products.
To identify potential product substitutions, visit the AFCEE PRO-ACT link for info. For Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), visit Vermont Safety Information Resources, Inc., or Cornell's Site
EPA-17 Chemicals
Seventeen high-priority toxic chemicals were selected for reduction from the existing Toxic Release Inventory. Commonly referred to as EPA-17 chemicals, they were selected for reduction based upon their toxicity, high volume production/emission, and high potential for successful reduction through pollution prevention initiatives. These chemicals include:
Benzene · Cadmium & Compounds · Carbon Tetrachloride · Chloroform · Chromium & Compounds · Cyanides · Methylene Chloride · Lead & Compounds · Mercury & Compounds · Methyl Ethyl Ketone · Methyl Isobutyl · Ketone · Nickel & Compounds · Tetrachloroethylene · Toluene · 1,1,1-Trichloroethane · Trichloroethylene · Xylenes
Greenhouse Gases
The following gases have been identified as "greenhouse gases", or Ozone Depleting gases, as denoted by the asterisk (*). Their use is to be limited or eliminated where possible.
Carbon dioxide (CO2)· Methane (CH4)· Nitrous oxide (N2O)· Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)*· Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)*· Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6)
Recycling
Reducing waste saves money and protects our environment!
Recycling efforts are the best ways to reduce the amount of used materials going to landfills as well as saving tax dollars to pay for disposal of hazardous waste. Examples of our recycling programs are:
- Recycling paper instead of disposing of it in landfills.
- Recycling and reusing anti-freeze instead of disposing in landfills.
- Composting yard waste instead of disposing the waste in landfills.
Treatment and disposal of these wastes is managed to reduce the impact to the environment.
The Recycling Center is located at Building 3347 on Celmers Lane on the east side of the Base. Please call (301) 981-6410 to schedule an appointment.
The Center performs many duties on the base such as:
- Pick up of paper products at individual facilities on a weekly basis
- Large one-time pick-ups of recyclables from any facility
- Stocks desk side recycling bins and recycling containers
- Accepts large recyclables and cardboard during operating hours
- Collection of bulk solid waste and used oil
- Accepts batteries and recycles battery materials
Base personnel may bring yard clippings, shrubs, and leaf and limb debris to Recycling Center. For more information please contact the Pollution Prevention Program manager at (301) 981-3472.
Recycling Facts
Glass: Most bottles and jars contain about 30% of recycled glass. Glass recycling employs over 30,000 workers in the U.S. The U.S. annually produces about 10 million tons of glass of which 3.7 million is recycled glass. Glass recycling saves over 25% of the energy necessary to make glass with virgin materials.
Plastic: Over 1 billion pounds of post-consumer plastics are recycled annually in the U.S. The U.S. plastics industry employs over 1.2 million workers. The U.S. annually recycles 18% of all its plastic bottles and containers, and 30% of its soft drink bottles. The U.S. plastic industry has a $4 billion trade surplus.
Aluminum: 63.5% of aluminum cans are recycled in the U.S. Recycling aluminum saves about 95% of all the energy it would take to produce aluminum from its original source, bauxite ore. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a TV for three hours. Aluminum production employs over 139,000 Americans.
Newspaper: Nearly 6 of every 10 U.S. newspapers are being recycled. Producing paper from recycled paper reduces air and water pollution by 50%. Newspaper can by recycled 5-7 times.
Steel: The steel food can is sometimes called a tin can because a thin layer of tin is applied to the can's inner and outer surfaces to protect the food and prevent rusting. 55.9% of steel cans are recycled in the U.S. Recycling one ton of steel saves 2,500 lbs. of iron ore, 1400 lbs. of coal, and 120 lbs. of limestone.
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