Sponsors (5)
The bill improves troop and nearby-community health and on-site contraband destruction by funding portable disposal systems and banning burn pits, at the cost of redirecting Overseas Operating funds and adding operational and lifecycle expenses for units that must use and maintain the equipment.
Military personnel and nearby border communities will face less exposure to toxic smoke because the bill bans open-air burn pits for contraband/hazardous materials and provides portable on-site destruction capability.
Military installations and forward operating bases will gain on-site capability to securely destroy illicit contraband and hazardous items, reducing risks from smuggling and evidence handling.
Military units will receive $8.95 million in FY2026 procurement funding to acquire portable solid waste disposal systems, enabling faster fielding of disposal capability.
Overseas contingency operations and related support could be reduced because the bill shifts $8.95 million from Overseas Operating Costs to procure disposal systems.
Units and local authorities that host and operate the new equipment will face increased operational complexity and ongoing maintenance/training burdens.
Taxpayers and the military may incur higher per-item disposal lifecycle costs compared with informal burn pits unless additional funding is provided.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Permits DoD to use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems to destroy illicit contraband, bans open‑air burn pits for such disposals, and moves $8.95M to FY2026 Army procurement offset by a cut to an O&M overseas account.
Official title: 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 Peter Welch · Last progress July 17, 2025
Authorizes the Secretary of Defense to use expeditionary solid waste disposal systems to destroy illicit contraband (counterfeit goods, unauthorized military gear, illegal narcotics, classified materials) and to make those units available to military installations, forward operating bases, and partner security forces. The bill bans use of open‑air burn pits to dispose of illicit contraband, classified military equipment, or hazardous waste materials. It adds $8,950,000 to the FY2026 Army Other Procurement account for solid waste disposal systems and offsets that increase by cutting $8,950,000 from a FY2026 Army Operation and Maintenance account previously used for open‑air burn pits in contingency operations.