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WPAFB's building 471 saves approximately $6.4 million by recycling

  • Published
  • By Ted Theopolos
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Wright-Patterson AFB's building 471 is in a quiet setting, nestled next to the woods in Area B. What goes on inside, however, is not nearly so rustic. The 2,400 square foot building is home to Air Force Radioactive Recycling and Disposal. With more than 120 years of combined experience, AFRRAD personnel are the primary focal point for radiation safety compliance on Wright-Patt and radioactive recycling/waste management within the U.S. Air Force.

AFRRAD is permitted under the Air Force Master Radioactive Materials License, which is issued by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. As the name implies, the mission of these highly trained personnel is to recycle or dispose of radioactive material, much of which comes from products we see and even use every day.

Smoke detectors, for example, have small amounts of the radioactive material Americium-241, about 0.00000029 grams. That might not seem like much, but thousands of old smoke detectors are sent to building 471.

"The Air Force has to dispose of smoke detectors according to NRC License," said AFRRAD chief of Radiation Management Branch Brian Harcek. "Most people can discard these types of smoke detectors in the local landfill, but the Air Force has so many they can't do that. We prefer to recycle them."

Other common items handled by AFRRAD are watches, compasses and self-illuminating exit signs. These items often contain tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen.

"We try to recycle watches and compasses so they can be used again," said Harcek. "If we're unable to do that, they are disposed of properly."

For self-illuminating exit signs, the process is a bit more complex.

Exit signs are inventoried and tracked by manufacturer, model and serial numbers as well as by the location they were sent from. Prior to shipping to a tritium gas recycler, the extraneous components are removed from the signs.

"The aluminum sign casings are sent to the base recycling center for them to recycle and receive funding, but we handle the radioactive components," said Harcek. "Right now, we have approximately 700 tritium signs boxed and ready to ship to Las Vegas."

Some of the tasks handled by AFRRAD are not quite as "everyday." They check the x-ray machines on base once a year and routinely survey and inventory radioactive materials used at the Air Force Research Laboratory, Air Force Institute of Technology and National Museum of the United States Air Force.

"Many of the old aircraft in the museum contain radium dials that would illuminate at night," said Harcek. "Our personnel work closely with NMUSAF personnel on the safe storage of radium-containing artifacts or in determining whether the radium dials need to be decontaminated or removed from aircraft and disposed of."

Outside of the Air Force, AFRRAD provides their recycling services to the other military services, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, NASA and other government contractors. The specialized skills of AFRRAD personnel keep them busy.

"We travel an average of 14 times a year," said Harcek. "Our next trip includes a visit to Moody and Robins Air Force Bases. The trips average from one to two days to sometimes two weeks. We're also going to Germany this year."

The traveling is not in vain. According to Harcek, the branch has saved the USAF approximately $6.4 million in cost avoidance to date by recycling and reducing waste. The branch has also won several awards for its radioactive recycling efforts, including the prestigious White House Closing the Circle Award.

Harcek attributes their success in large part to putting safety first. All personnel that work around this type of material receive specific technical training.

"Most people get excited when they see or get near radioactive material," said Harcek. "But if you know what material you're dealing with and the safety measures for handling it, it's not scary at all. Just follow the rules."