Military Munitions

In the context of the RCRA hazardous waste regulations (refer to 40 CFR 266.200), the term "military munitions" refers to ammunition products and components that were produced for, or used by, the U.S. military for national defense and security. By definition, the military includes the Department of Defense, the U.S. armed services, the Coast Guard, the National Guard, the Department of Energy, or other parties under contract or acting as an agent for the foregoing, who handle military munitions.

Unused or defective munitions are considered to be solid waste when they meet the following criteria:

• Abandoned through disposal, burning, incineration, or detonation (with some exceptions)
• Treated prior to disposal
• Deteriorated or damaged beyond repair and are non-recyclable
• Declared a waste by an authorized military official

Used munitions (for example, those that have been fired or detonated) may be considered solid waste if they are collected for storage, recycling, treatment, or disposal. Also, because used or fired military munitions are considered to be solid waste under RCRA regulations, military operators must ensure that any munitions that land off-range are retrieved or rendered safe, just as any other solid waste is required to be.

To learn more about RCRA safety standards visit our RCRA Refresher Online Training web page.