# Hazardous Waste summit unites military disposal customers from across continents

/ Published Aug. 7, 2023
BATTLE CREEK, Mich., 
For two productive days in July at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, logisticians gathered to consider a riddle important enough to pack combatant command environmentalists, service component reps and the Defense Logistics Agency’s disposal experts into one room. 

How can the Defense Department efficiently comply with the spectrum of hazardous waste rules and regulations that vary wildly from country to country across Europe and Africa? How can its environmentalists minimize disposal challenges for U.S. servicemembers training with international partners while becoming more efficient about dealing with the waste those partnerships generate?

“We cannot do this alone,” DLA Disposition Services Europe and Africa Director Jessie Parisano told summit participants. “Please share with us your thoughts, let’s brainstorm ideas, but above all, let’s get to know each other to build a strong collaborative partnership that will give the warfighter the most effective, efficient and economical HW disposal support in this theater.”

Air Force Maj. Nathan Kaiser, the DLA Disposition Services Europe & Africa Deputy Director of Military Operations, said DLA’s regional disposal team simply wanted to host an event that would give them a sharper insight into what OCONUS commands wanted.

                Summit discussions included topics like host nation regime analysis processes, final governing standards, the Basel Convention, and DOD’s Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document.                            230712-D-D0441-5434                            Summit discussions included topics like host nation regime analysis processes, final governing standards, the Basel Convention, and DOD’s Overseas Environmental Baseline Guidance Document.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DLA photoVIRIN: 230712-D-D0441-5434“The idea for the summit came from the need to better understand the unique challenges faced in each area of responsibility for hazardous waste disposal, and to share and leverage lessons learned while working through the requirements for each country,” Kaiser said.

The inaugural sit-down included sessions on everything from major exercises and general disposal procedures to Basel Convention guidelines and the finer points of the department’s Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreements. Written feedback provided to DLA from the nearly 50 attendees was uniformly positive and indicated a strong desire to keep the dialogue going.

"By bringing together AFRICOM, service components, and DLA specialists,” summit attendee AFRICOM Theater Environmental Coordinator Garth Anderson said, “we were able to identify improved processes and creative solutions to the complex logistical challenges of hazardous waste disposal on the African continent."

Kaiser said DLA’s Europe and Africa disposal team will process summit feedback to inform support adjustments. Constructive discussions teased out insights on varied topics like disposal support for non-enduring locations, pier-side removals, and the agency’s rules for reviewing and authorizing additions to Qualified Facility and Qualified Transporter lists.“We discussed the mission-essential need for contracts that are versatile enough to allow for the addition of new HW removal locations, including countries where DOD hasn’t needed HW removals in the past,” Kaiser said, noting the special challenges of operating in Africa, with its more than 50 sovereign countries that have widely varying standards of strictness regarding hazardous waste disposal.

Summit attendee Florencia Whiting is an AFRICOM environmental specialist. She said the meeting was a great opportunity for the services and DLA to collaborate on providing streamlined support to servicemembers deployed in Africa. 

                Summit attendees included representatives from EUCOM, AFRICOM, Public Health Command Europe, the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Defense Logistics Agency.                            230711-D-D0441-5432                            Summit attendees included representatives from EUCOM, AFRICOM, Public Health Command Europe, the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and the Defense Logistics Agency.            SHARE IMAGE:Download ImageImage DetailsPhoto By: DLA photoVIRIN: 230711-D-D0441-5432“As we strengthen our relationships across Africa and continue our partnership with host nations, the environmental support – specifically the hazardous waste disposal support we provide across Europe and Africa – is vital to continue successful contingency operations across multiple African nations,” Whiting said. 

With so many AFRICOM and EUCOM stakeholders gathered in one place, DLA Disposition Services personnel also hosted post-summit meetings to begin development of special five-year renewal contracts supporting HW removals in both Africa and Germany’s Hessen region that would otherwise expire next year.

“Both meetings included a very smart and engaged group of stakeholders from across the regions,” Kaiser said. “Now DLA must deliver on developing and awarding the most effective HW disposal contracts for our warfighter customers.”

Will the summit become a fixture? Some attendee comments may hold clues as to the perceived benefit of future visitations:

***“Learning DLA processes will be instrumental in ensuring units can properly manage HW without constant HQ involvement. Additionally, the talks about exercises and support will open doors to ensuring environmental protection.”***

***“This needs to be an annual event to keep abreast of emerging issues and how we can assist each other.”***

***“Congrats to the organizing team. Topics were brief and well explained and great discussions made. I would suggest this summit is held yearly or every two years.”***