Sponsors (3)
The bill improves health and secure disposal capability for deployed U.S. forces and partners by fielding solid waste disposal systems and banning burn pits, but does so with a small reprogramming of overseas O&M funds and creates short-term cost, logistics, and partner-burden trade-offs.
Deployed U.S. military personnel, forward operating bases, and partner/security forces gain field-capable solid waste disposal units that enable secure destruction of contraband and hazardous materiel, improving operational security and evidence/forensics.
Prohibiting open-air burn pits reduces exposure of service members and nearby communities to toxic smoke, lowering immediate health/safety risks during deployments and at forward locations.
Provides a targeted FY2026 appropriation ($8.95 million) to field solid waste disposal systems so units are available where needed.
The $8.95 million increase is funded by an $8.95 million cut to overseas operations & maintenance, which could reduce resources for contingency operations, support services, or readiness overseas.
Banning open-air burn pits may increase short-term disposal costs and logistical burdens in austere or resource-limited environments, complicating waste management at some forward sites.
Shifting disposal to military-controlled units could transfer responsibilities, training requirements, and sustainment costs onto partner forces or local authorities, creating implementation and coordination burdens.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes DoD expeditionary solid waste disposal units to destroy seized contraband, bans open‑air burn pits, and adds $8.95M procurement in FY2026 offset by O&M cuts.
Official title: To authorize the use of expeditionary solid waste disposal systems by the Department of Defense and to provide funding for solid waste disposal systems, with an offset, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 17, 2025 by Raul Ruiz · Last progress July 17, 2025
Authorizes the Department of Defense to use expeditionary solid waste disposal system units to destroy seized illicit contraband (counterfeit goods, unauthorized military gear, illegal drugs, classified materials) and makes those units available to support border security, narcotics interdiction, military installations, forward operating bases, and partner security forces. Prohibits use of open‑air burn pits for disposing illicit contraband, classified equipment, or hazardous wastes. Provides an $8,950,000 increase to Army procurement in FY2026 for solid waste disposal systems and offsets that increase by reducing $8,950,000 from Army Operation and Maintenance, Additional Activities, Overseas Operating Costs tied to use of open‑air burn pits in contingency operations.