H.R. 4526: Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act

This bill, titled the Waste and Illegal Property Eradication (WIPE) Act, proposes several measures focused on improving waste disposal methods for the Department of Defense (DoD). Here are the key provisions of the bill:

Use of Solid Waste Disposal Systems

The bill allows the Secretary of Defense to utilize expeditionary solid waste disposal systems to destroy various types of illicit contraband. This includes:

• Seized counterfeit materials
• Unauthorized military equipment
• Illegal narcotics
• Classified materials

These disposal systems will be equipped to aid in operations related to:

• Border security
• Narcotic interdiction
• Elimination of contraband

Furthermore, the systems will be available to military installations, forward operating bases, and partner security forces to help counter unauthorized military asset use.

Prohibition on Open-Air Burn Pits

The bill prohibits the Secretary of Defense from using open-air burn pits for the disposal of:

• Illicit contraband
• Classified military equipment
• Hazardous waste materials

Funding Provisions

The proposed legislation includes a funding aspect, wherein:

• The budget for Other Procurement, Army, will be increased by $8,950,000 for fiscal year 2026 to cover the costs of the solid waste disposal systems.
• This increase will be offset by a reduction of $8,950,000 from the Operation and Maintenance, Army, Additional Activities, Overseas Operating Costs, specifically drawn from expenses related to open-air burn pits in contingency operations.

Overall Purpose

In summary, the WIPE Act aims to enhance the capability of the Department of Defense in managing waste materials, particularly those that are hazardous or illegal, while also transitioning away from less environmentally friendly disposal methods like open-air burn pits.

Relevant Companies

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