It pays to recycle Published July 17, 2008 By Amy Oliver 1st SOW Public Affairs HURLBURT FIELD, Fla. -- In the past month, the Hurlburt Field community has been treated to the annual Sound of Independence, and has received two new pontoon boats and a new 35-passenger tour bus. Two high school students also received $1,000 college scholarships. It's all thanks to the Hurlburt Field recycling program, which also funds Family Fest, the Easter Egg Hunt, Super Day, Tops in Blue, Fall Fest, the Commando Cruise-In and the Christmas tree lighting each year, and plans to provide funds for a Sesame Street Live show in September. The program, which began in January 1991, returns a large portion of its profits to the base to be used for quality-of-life activities. So it pays to recycle. "It's all about getting people excited about recycling," said Norman Ben-Maor, the recycling center manager, also know as "Recycleman." During the first six months of fiscal year 2008, the recycling center set record gross sales of $541,285. In comparison, from 1991-2000, the Center grossed $521,657. And they continue to seek ways to maintain profitability. While the total processed pounds has been decreasing due to the 1st Special Operations Wing policy of cross-cut shredding all paper, a variety of scrap metal, including brass shells, continue to be their biggest money-makers. With last October's purchase of the ordnance deformer, a machine that crushes small arms brass shells, they can process up to 6,000 pounds an hour. "Not sure whose decision it was to have recycling pay for the rides [at the Sound of Independence]," said Maj. Lisa Manion, 623rd Air Operations Center, "But it was great. The kids loved it!"