America's North Shore Journal

Soldiers eating at Coalition Dining Facility stop to deposit plastic bottles into one bin, aluminum cans into another and trash into a third before exiting the building. This three-step process, while seemingly inconsequential, has enabled service members to do their part in improving the local environment. “Iraqis didn’t think anything of just throwing bottles and cans out of car windows,” said Doug Harger, director of central Iraq’s business development for First Iraqi Contracting Company. “It would rain and that stuff would wash into the sewer system and back up treatment plants.” The bottles and cans that made it to trash dumps presented a major environmental problem as well. Sonia Parker, budget analyst for 10th Mountain Division, said other methods of material disposal create health risks. “Burning this stuff creates toxic fumes,” said Parker, who … Read entire article »