Small arms ammunition and pyrotechnics continue to find their way into the waste stream. This is both dangerous and unacceptable and is viewed as a major problem in the Army. It is also becoming of increasing concern to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the Environment Agency (EA).
Because of the pressure to increase recycling rather than sending waste straight to landfill, ammunition that is put into the into the waste stream will inevitably be found at a commercial recycling and sorting facility, where it could become a very serious danger to the sorting staff.
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The disposal of ammunition and pyrotechnics in skips and bins in barracks and on training areas is forbidden. It is extremely bad practice, dangerous and illegal. So far, measures taken to prevent it happening have cost the Army budget over half a million pounds in contractor’s penalty fees. Recently, plastic explosives and pyrotechnics were found together in waste on a training area. At this rate it is only a matter of time before formal enforcement action will be taken against the Army by either the HSE or the EA, or both. |
Greater control must therefore be exercised at all levels of command to deal with this problem and prevent any further incidents. In particular...
- Ammunition and range declarations by soldiers on completion of training and firing exercises are to be rigorously controlled. Time must be allowed for range clearance and personnel and kit searches to be carried out.
- Units are strongly advised to deploy amnesty boxes in accordance with the DCIE Temporary Explosives Bulletin 007/09. They must be sited conveniently so they can be used without fear or blame.
- Prominent signs should be deployed at bin and skip areas which clearly state that it is a disciplinary offence to dispose of ammunition or pyrotechnics, whether spent or unused, in skips and bins.