Fort Detrick has a leading recycling program where on average 46% of waste is recycled monthly.

 

Fort Detrick Integrated Solid Waste Management reflects the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency pollution prevention hierarchy that places an emphasis on source reduction and recycling to reduce the solid waste stream. This management strategy is also in line with the Army Strategy for the Environment, "Sustain the Mission - Secure the Future".

 

Everyone is responsible for source reduction, including federally-mandated suggested buying practices such as buying recycled, recycling, and proper waste disposal. Efficient materials management focuses on pollution prevention (P2), also known as source reduction and waste minimization, to produce fewer wastes and use less toxic chemicals. This also means diverting material from going to waste through recycling and energy recovery.

 

Integrated Solid Waste Management at Fort Detrick is designed to minimize initial generation of solid waste through source reduction, and then emphasize reuse of materials, recycling, and affirmative procurement or buying recycled.

 

We at Fort Detrick pledge (and you can help) to reduce solid wastes at the source, where feasible, manage solid wastes in a manner protective of human health and the environment, and maintain compliance with all applicable Federal, State of Maryland, local, and Department of Defense, and Army regulations and performance metrics.

 

Recyclables - Being environmentally conscience in this day and time, means recycling whenever possible.

 

  • All clean dry paper (this includes newspaper, copier, cardboard, any other paper products) should be deposited in the blue recycle containers, or the outside cardboard bins located throughout post.
  • All plastics should be rinsed of solids and emptied of liquids and put in the recycle bins.
  • Containers for aluminum cans are located in each building throughout the post.
  • Wooden pallets should be saved for collection by recycle personnel.
  • Batteries should be returned to the original place obtained. This is easily done. Just turn them in when requesting replacements.

Medical Waste - Located outside each lab and research building are the containers for medical waste. These one cubic yard push carts are exclusively for collection of trash from the lab areas. They are collected daily and incinerated upon receipt at the incinerator plant.

 

Clean Wood - With the exception of pallets, all clean wood is collected and delivered to our wood shredder, where it is processed and prepared for shipment to a mulching facility.

 

Burnable Trash - If your trash does not meet the recycling standards identified above, it will be incinerated. We strive to minimize incineration as much as possible by recycling everything we can. Please remember that some recyclable items such as metal and wood can damage the collection vehicles and incinerators if placed in the burnable dumpsters.

 

Non-Burnable Trash - Concrete, porcelain, dirt, and large furniture items must be handled in a special manner. Please contact the Solid Waste management Section for instructions on what to do with these types of waste.

 

Any item considered a hazardous material should be collected by the Hazardous Materiel Management Branch (301) 619-3441.