Implementing Waste Disposal Alternatives in Overseas Contingency Operations
Abstract
Solid waste disposal practices commonly employed in the Department of Defense's contingency operations are hazardous to human health, degrading to mission effectiveness, and require significant land area, energy, and labor to operate. As the widespread use of burn pits has decreased, alternative methods for disposing of wastes commonly entail hiring local nationals to haul waste off of bases and/or procuring and operating waste incinerators--both of which have challenges. In recent years, updates have been made to DoD's waste disposal policies and doctrine, practices on the ground, and pursuit of materiel solutions. Several DoD policies and doctrine issued in the last decade provide guidance on solid waste management: DoD Directive 3000.10, "Contingency Basing Outside the United States;" DoDI 4715.22, "Environmental Management Policy for Contingency Locations;" DoD Instruction 4715.19, "Use of Open-Air Burn Pits in Contingency Operations;" and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Regulation 200-2, "Environmental Quality - CENTCOM Contingency Environmental Standards." Combatant Commanders now have stricter requirements to formulate waste management plans, evaluate alternative methods of waste disposal, and perform health risk assessments and air quality monitoring as required by policy. The Department has continued to invest in testing and evaluation of incinerators and waste-to-energy technologies that are appropriately sized and designed for the military's contingency operations. Progress has been made in coordinating test and evaluation activities, test method standards, and performance requirements across the Department. The logistical benefits of a waste-to-energy system would be significant (potentially reducing waste volume by 95 while also reducing energy demand), but further testing and validation is necessary given the complex and expensive nature of systems currently under development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1051872
Entities
People
- Bret M. Strogen
- David J. Asiello
- David W. Stokes
- George W. Reagan
- Jason B. Faulkenberry
- Joel C. Young
- John D. Horstmann
- Laurie A. Cummings
- Leigh A. Knowlton
- Manuel Jr M. Vengua
- Miriam R. Tannenbaum
- Robin A. Nissan
- Rodrick B. Mclean
- Ruthanne S. Darling
- Steven P. Jones
- Travis K. Leighton
- Warren J. Assink
- William R. Allmon
Organizations
- United States Assistant Secretary of Defense