An overview of the sustainability of solid waste management at military installations Page: 3 of 41
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Nature and Extent of the Problem
The disposal solutions at military installations vary widely from base to base. Very few
of the installations currently operate on-site waste disposal, opting instead to rely on
civilian contractors for MSW handling. Due to government imposed mandates (EO
13101, (Clinton 1998) all bases were required to have a solid waste diversion rate of 40%
of the 1998 levels by 2005, prompting early adoption of waste minimization and
recycling programs. The waste reduction goal was met in FY 2001 when the diversion
rate reached 45%. (Clinton 1998; Command 2005).
Some unique aspects of military installations are due the fact that they are federally
owned and operated facilities. They contain a mixture of civilian employees and armed
forces. Nationwide there are 5904 military bases with 1.7 million civilian and military
personnel, with civilian personnel account for 25% of total (ASTSWMO 2007; DOD
2007). Overall, the federal government employs 2% of United States residents making it
the largest overall US employer. In addition, military installations are in diverse
locations which necessitate a variety of customized solutions.
Military bases also have different demographics than the general population
(USCensusBureau 2000; DOD 2007) (see Table 1). The overall age distribution is
younger and has a proportionally higher male population than the US population at large.
Many of the military personnel live in base housing and do not have direct
responsibilities over grounds maintenance (as in a civilian residences) creating a more
controlled waste stream for landscaping waste. Military cafeterias have the advantage of
scale for control over source reduction, reuse, and recycling of waste (USArmy 1994).
Education and training of the younger population on sustainable waste management will,
hopefully, have an effect of practices for the rest of the lifetime of the soldier and
soldier's family after leaving the military.
There are a few different categories of waste that are produced by the military. DOD
facilities produce munitions which are considered MSW under some circumstances.
Residential waste typically includes wastes from single and multi-family dwellings,
bachelor officer's quarters, and troop housing and can consists typically of paper, glass,
metal, plastics, food wastes, and other miscellaneous items. (Table 2) They also produce
institutional waste from administration offices, commissaries, food service, medical
facilities, warehouse, post exchanges, schools, and labs. From shops, motor pools, point
shops, service stations the installations produce industrial waste. Construction and
Demolition (C & D) waste is also a major waste stream, a major source of waste for the
military, will not be considered in this discussion. Due to the large land holdings and of
DOD, green waste is also a major consideration. Other waste could include universal
waste, batteries, computers, and hazardous waste.
The costs of MSW management are high and on the rise. Army MSW costs totaled $97.2
million to dispose of 1.6 metric tons of MSW, not including construction and demolition
debris. (DefenseEnvironmentalPrograms 2006). The Navy produces 600,000 tons of
MSW annually, at a cost of 50 million (Navy February, 1999). Costs for MSW handlingPage 1 3
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Borglin, S.; Shore, J.; Worden, H. & Jain, R. An overview of the sustainability of solid waste management at military installations, article, August 15, 2009; Berkeley, California. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1014194/m1/3/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.