NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Recycles Debris from Hurricane Sandy

By Tom Kreidel, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs

EARLE, N.J. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic will recycle more than six miles of damaged metal pipes from Naval Weapons Station Earle, in a project that began Dec. 14, saving the Navy more than $150,000 in refuse removal fees for the material.

According to Dave North, Naval Weapons Station Earle recycling specialist, Hurricane Sandy destroyed three to four miles of 10 inch sewer pipe and three to four miles of 14 inch water pipe, primarily from the three-mile long pier at the base. Personnel at Earle originally studied possibly reusing the pipe, but discovered the pipe was too damaged for that to be feasible.

"Our mission is to be fiscally responsible and to be good stewards of the environment," said Mike Cunningham, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic regional integrated solid waste manager. This project not only saves the Navy money through cost avoidance, but it helps to reduce landfill space by maximizing our diversion efforts."

According to Brian Grandinette, NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic solid waste manager for New Jersey and Pennsylvania, the estimated cost for removing the debris and sending it to the landfill was more than $150,000.

"We won't make any money off this due to the labor and time required for our recycling vendor to retrieve the material, but they won't charge us either," he explained.

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic is working with a local vendor, Red Bank Recycling to remove the plastic and foam from the pipes and recycle the metal. The effort will wrap up with the vendor clearing the area and the entire project should be finished by the end of December.