MILITARY

Chemicals and hazardous waste are part and parcel of a modern day military operation. As well as weapons, ballistics and armoury, conflict zone waste may consist of destroyed military equipment, rubble from demolished buildings and washed up unknown substances. Contaminated military scrap metal may contain highly toxic substances, even in trace amounts, and thus needs to be disposed of responsibly. The highly dangerous forms of lithium used in weaponry are particularly challenging substances to deal with and require specialised knowledge and care.

It is critical that these materials are disposed of in a safe and legal manner to ensure the health and safety of the general public, military personnel and the environment. The consequences of not following procedure when disposing of these materials are well documented and it is essential that legislation is adhered to throughout the process. Our clients need to know that they can trust us to fulfil our duty of care and act in a fully compliant manner throughout our dealings with them. Excel Trading can demonstrate a proven track record in the safe removal and destruction of hazardous substances in a war setting.

Typical issues that we face in hazardous waste management in a theatre of war are:

Identification – Ensuring the correct identification of the substance is critical in ensuring its safe delivery so that it can be handled appropriately. 

Packaging - The substance will be packaged in the correct manner to ensure it is safe to travel

Specialised transport – Ensuring that the transportation is suitable for the substance it is going to contain. We purchase new and specialised vehicles and have are equipped to deal with emergencies.

Security – Ensuring the material reaches its destination without mishap.

Safety – Ensuring that toxic and dangerous chemicals are not released into the environment that could pose a threat to public health. By the nature of military weaponry, much of the waste is explosive so it is paramount that substances of this kind are handled correctly and that regulations are adhered to.

Logistics – Careful advance planning is required to ensure that the journey of the hazardous substance is as safe as possible. This may involve routing the material through alternate countries to avoid problem areas and utilise specialist forms of transport over land, air and sea.

Cross border regulation – Carrying hazardous waste through multiple countries will require compliance with national and international law.

Cross agency partnerships – Typically several organisations will be involved in the removal of hazardous waste from a war zone and so it is essential that all agencies work together to achieve the desired result.