Chief of Engineers' civil works activities, reservoir clearing and the accumulation of solid wastes associated with river and harbor operations are special problems.

A major concern of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is that related to the collection, removal, and disposal of harbor debris, which will be discussed briefly later on.

There are also some unique problems relating to the manufacturing, testing, and disposal of specialized military materiel and munitions. For rather obvious reasons, this is only mentioned in passing at this time.

WASTE DISPOSAL PRACTICES

Sir, I have mentioned that the military departments have long been concerned with the problems of hygiene and sanitation, and that the matter of waste disposal has been of traditional interest. As we shall bring out in this discussion, there has been considerable pioneering in both technology and administrative procedures in what is now described as waste management.

Many of these procedures have subsequently been adapted to civilian utility. They arose from an understanding of the need to maintain the human resource represented by military personnel, and also from an appreciation of the need for conservation of scarce resources.

I would not like to clutter up the record unnecessarily with some historical information but one aspect of any research program is to undertake an analysis of what is known, what is the existing state of the art.

RECYCLING

So, while it might seem facetious to point this out, the concept of reclamation and reuse which has been advocated for civilian communities and is being practiced in certain new installations, is one of longstanding practice in the military departments. As an example, I should like to quote for you from the "Manual for the Quartermaster Corps, U.S. Army, 1916," in this regard:

Empty barrels, boxes, crates, and other packages, together with metal turnings, scrap metal, ground bone and other waste products which accumulate at arsenals, depots and military posts which are unsuitable for the public service will be disposed of in the manner prescribed for property condemned and ordered sold in paragraph 680, Army Regulations, 1913-hides and tallows not required for public use will be carefully preserved and sold as may be convenient in the manner prescribed above.

This same manual contains instructions relating to the disposal of garbage, and a variety of other instructions relating to what today would be called environmental pollution or waste management operations.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

We have mentioned the fact that the military departments have long been pioneers, and it also seems useful to point out that the publication "Military Preventive Medicine," first issued in 1930, contained extensive recommendations regarding the handling and disposal of wastes. This book and its subsequent editions were widely used also in civilian public health departments. With regard to some specific actions concerning solid waste management, beginning in 1939

there was intensive action in the military departments associated with the buildup of the Armed Forces.

For the record, I would like to insert an excerpt from the "History of Repairs and Utilities." Perusal of this document will show a remarkable similarity to some of the problems which we are currently facing.

I call attention to the discussion regarding sanitary fills, incinerators, and refuse collection. I should like, also, with your permission, to insert for the record a copy of the "Guides and Procedures for Refuse Collection and Disposal," War Department, Technical Manual TM 5-600, November 1945, and chapter 7, "Garbage and Refuse Disposal," Technical Manual 5-283, Air Force Manual 90-5, "Utilities."

These documents are indicative of the extent of study and effort given to the problems of waste management, which are still being continued by this Department. I would like to add, in 1939, following the buildup of the Armed Forces, it was intensive.

For the record, I would like to insert some of these items indicating this, such as the "History of Repairs and Utilities" and the "Guides and Procedures for Refuse Collection."

The information there, sir, is of considerable interest in the light of some of the current problems.

Senator RANDOLPH. Yes. That will be included.

(The exhibits furnished by Colonel Meyer follow :)

EXHIBIT 1

HISTORY OF REPAIRS AND UTILITIES, 1939-1945

(Repairs and Utilities Division, Office, Director of Military Construction, Office, Chief of Engineers)

SECTION 6.-REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL

Early incinerator situation.-There were incinerators at nearly all posts, camps and stations during peacetime, which incinerators were of a sufficient capacity and efficiency to dispose of the refuse of the population of the posts. However, in 1941, with the activation of the defense program, the population at posts, camps, and stations doubled and trebled virtually overnight, and soon the old incinerators were inadequate to dispose of the excessive load. Efforts were made to provide additional incinerators at old posts and to install new incinerators at new posts, but the shortage of labor and materials prolonged fulfillment for months. In the meantime, most incinerators were overloaded and abused to the breaking point, and many posts had to resort to open dumping of refuse.

Use of sanitary fill.-Dumps of putrescible refuse caused breeding of rats, mosquitoes, and flies. The Office of the Surgeon General registered complaints against them as potential health hazards, and urged their elimination. The method of disposal known as "sanitary fill" was investigated and found to be easily adaptable for army use. Its advantages over building an incinerator plant were quick installation, flexible capacity, simple operation, and low operating cost. Large posts, particularly, benefited by a sanitary fill method of refuse disposal, as there were no restrictions as to daily capacity, the size of the earth cells merely increased or decreased in accordance with the needs of the moment. Equipment and labor requirements did not change. The health menace was eliminated as correct compaction and covering of refuse precludes harborage to vermin.

Authorization of use of sanitary fill.-OCE Circular Letter No. 1768 issued by the Chief of Engineers on 30 June 1942, stated in part: "In order to conserve

58 OCE Circular Letter No. 1768 (Construction Division No. 475), dated June 30, 1942, Subject: "Disposal of Garbage and Waste Material."

critical materials, incinerators will be authorized for construction only at locations where garbage and refuse cannot be disposed of by sanitary fill". Methods of sanitary fill were to be developed by the Repairs and Utilities Branch in cooperation with the Office of the Surgeon General. A Waste Disposal Section was established in the Repairs and Utilities Branch.

Training program.-Because of lack of knowledge in the field of sanitary fill methods, early sanitary fill installations were not entirely successful. It was demonstrated that, while the method was entirely sound, yet due to differences in soil, climate, terrain and operating conditions, engineering supervision was required at the time of installation and later at regular intervals by trained service command or Office, Chief of Engineers' personnel. Since trained personnel were not available for employment by service commands, field trips and schools had to be provided for necessary training. By August, 1943, sanitary fills were being successfully operated on 250 posts, small and large, in both southern and northern areas. Technical Bulletin TB ENG I, was published 57 which described the installation and operation of sanitary fills in considerable detail. This publication was also made available to troops overseas.

Incinerators in Hospitals.-Hospitals, small posts, and industrial depots were authorized to use incinerators. The Repairs and Utilities Manual contained a chapter on incinerator operation and maintenance in the revised 1943 edition. Incinerator specialists made field trips and conducted training schools to disseminate further information on operation and maintenance.

Design of new incinerator.-A simplified incinerator for 1200-man posts or less was designed in the Repairs and Utilities Branch. Destructors for industrial depots, and other units were also designed and modifications of former designs for special cases were made.

Waste material salvage.-During 1943 salvage of waste materials was emphasized. Post salvage officers were directed to accumulate and sell garbage suitable for hog feed, grease, clean paper, and cartons. Nevertheless, large amounts of salvable materials were included in refuse turned in at incinerators, sanitary fills, and dumps. Spot checks disclosed that the average amount of refuse received at disposal facilities was 2.16 lbs. per man per day. In April 1944, the Waste Disposal Units of the service commands were assigned the responsibility of inspecting the refuse received at disposal facilities and for reporting any salvable waste that had been included. As a result, segregation by salvage units was more careful and by July 1944 the amount of refuse received at disposal facilities had dropped to 1.1 lbs. per capita.

Refuse collection.-While collection of refuse was a factor in its disposal and therefore a responsibility of the post engineer, this service was rarely performed by him or even under his supervision. Collections were frequently handled by troops, by garrison prisoners and by other agencies. There was duplication of effort, inefficient equipment, inadequate loadings of trucks and a waste of truck miles and manhours. In December 1944 the Refuse Collection and Disposal Section of the Repairs and Utilities Branch was assigned the duty of research on this subject. Field studies were made, municipal engineers consulted and special commercial type vehicles were investigated. In May 1945 a survey was made of the collection services at a representative group of posts, camps and stations. Nine municipal refuse collection specialists and five Engineer officers were assigned to temporary duty in the service commands for refuse collection activities. Later, these men and all service command refuse collection and disposal engineers attended a three-day conference and training school held at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in June 1945, where they were instructed in methods of refuse collection and in methods of making refuse collection surveys.

Collection vehicles.-Requests for purchase of commercial type collection vehicles were screened through the Office, Chief of Engineers, and just prior to July 1945 central purchase of such bodies, using ordnance chassis, was initiated. Technical publications.-The complete policy of Refuse Collection and Disposal has been published in TM 5-634.00

67 War Department Technical Bulletin, TB ENG 1-"Sanitary Fill Method of Disposing Garbage and Refuse."

5 Repairs and Utilities Manual, Chapter III, Section .02, RU 0703.2 "Sanitary Fill Method of Garbage and Refuse Disposal."

59 Section IV, TM 38–505, "Salvage in Zone of Interior" dated 24 April 1944.

60 War Department Technical Manual, TM 5-634, "Refuse Collection and Disposal."

EXHIBIT 2

WAR DEPARTMENT TECHNICAL MANUAL TM 5-600

(This manual supersedes TM 5-600, 1 June 1945)

GUIDES AND PROCEDURE: REPAIRS AND UTILITIES

Section VII. REFUSE COLLECTION AND DISPOSAL

3.44. General

Post engineers are responsible for collecting and disposing of all refuse and for collecting all salvage except that collected by contract or subject to accountability. They are not responsible for disposing of salvage. Service command refuse collection and disposal personnel are available to assist class I, II, III, and IV installations in

a. Determining the most suitable methods of collection and disposal,

b. Organizing the collection systems,

c. Selecting sanitary fill sites,

d. Initial installation of sanitary fills and regulated dumps,

e. Instructing refuse disposal operating personnel.

They will also inspect segregation, collection, and disposal operations periodically in accordance with established procedures.

3.45. Collections

Post engineer crews make systematic collection of salvage and refuse from pick-up stations. These stations are established by the post engineer with the approval of the commanding officer, and are the only places from which the normal daily accumulation of salvage and refuse are collected. Generating units or other personnel responsible for custodial services, are responsible for delivery of salvage and refuse to the pick-up stations and for proper segregation of materials in accordance with the requirements of the salvage program and the disposal systems. Organization commanders will take necessary steps to insure that all materials are segregated and placed in the designated containers. Improperly segregated materials will not be collected by the post engineer and a report will be made to the post commander for corrective action. Garbage and combustible materials will be collected daily. Other types of salvage and refuse will be collected as frequently as deemed necessary by the post engineer to prevent containers from becoming overloaded. Collections made by agencies other than those operating as a part of the post engineer's organized collection system are not permitted and the refuse will not be accepted at the disposal facility, except on special permission from the post engineer. The post engineer will appoint a competent supervisor to be in charge of collections.

3.46. Disposal Facilities

All posts, camps, and stations must be provided with adequate refuse disposal facilities. The approved systems applicable to most posts are sanitary fill, incinerators supplemented by regulated dumps, and removal from the post. Burning pits, burn-and-cover systems, and garbage grinders are approved methods of disposal under special conditions. Open dumping of garbage and trash creates potential health hazards by providing rodents, flies, and mosquitoes with ideal places to live and multiply. Therefore, open dumping of garbage and combustible trash will not be permitted on military reservations.

3.47. Sanitary Fill

Because of its flexibility, low installation and operating costs, and low personnel requirements, the sanitary-fill system of refuse disposal should be installed in preference to building an incinerator. However, a sanitary fill will not be installed or operated if no suitable site is available or if soil or climatic condition make the required earth-seal covering uneconomical or impracticable. Sanitaryfill operation should follow closely methods outlined in TM 5-634 (when published). Variations are acceptable if refuse is compacted and covered each day, and if there is no burning.

3.48. Incinerators

Incinerator procedures should be organized with maximum efficiency to avoid the need for added incinerator or sanitary-fill equipment. Essential factors are: correct salvage procedures; eliminating, at the sources, incombustibles and excess

95-825-68-15

water from refuse intended for incineration; well-scheduled deliveries of refuse to incinerator platforms; and good manual operation. Incinerators which are adequate for post requirements should be kept in operation; another disposal method will be substituted only if the change will result in a worth while reduction in personnel and/or operating cost.

a. OPERATION. Methods of incinerator organization, operation, and maintenance will follow closely the instructions in TM 5-634. If a single shift of operating hours is insufficient, a system of staggered working hours will be used in preference to two shifts.

b. SAFETY FACTORS. Safety guardrails will be installed on all top-feed incinerators. After operating hours, rubbish must not be left on or delivered to the charging floor or loading platforms. Explosive or highly inflammable materials must not be delivered to or charged into incinerators.

C. CONSTRUCTION REQUESTS. Because of the peculiarity of incinerator construction, all requests for incinerator construction at class I, II, III, and IV instaliations will be forwarded to the Chief of Engineers, accompanied by detailed reeommendations of the refuse collection and disposal section of the service com

mand.

3.49. Dumps

Regulated dumps are used only for the disposal of debris and incombustible refuse at posts, camps, and stations where the material is not disposed of by sanitary-fill, burn and cover method, or removal from the post. Dumps may not be used to dispose of combustible trash or garbage. Regulated dumps will be kept as small in area as practicable. The preferred height of dump face is not more than 4 feet. Every month, loose materials will be compacted and covered with 12 inches of earth or ashes. All inactive open dumps will be effaced by compacting loose materials and covering them with 12 inches of earth or ashes. Procedures relating to dumps will follow closely instructions given in TM 5-634. 3.50. Removal From Post

Post engineers are responsible for arranging contracts for collecting and/or hauling refuse off post and/or for disposing of it off the reservation. Care will be taken that the ultimate disposal method will not create a public nuisance. Contracts or arrangements can provide that the Government pay the contractors, but arrangements must be in the best interests of the Government. Payment can be made from repairs and utilities funds.

3.51. Burning Pits

Masonry burning pits or three-sided earth revetments are adequate for refuse disposal at depots and similar installations; however, they must be approved by fire-prevention agencies.

3.52. Burn and Cover

At small installations, such as class A installations, prisoner of war branch camps, or installations having only a small station complement where the daily production of refuse is too small to warrant the expense of building a permanent incinerator or equipping the installation with motorized vehicles for operating a sanitary fill, an acceptable method of refuse disposal is to trench each days refuse and burn it and to cover the residue weekly. This method is described in TM 5-634. While requests for adequate disposal facilities are being processed for posts other than small installations mentioned above, a modified system of burn and cover is acceptable as a temporary expedient. Under this system, refuse is burned daily and the residue effectively covered with earth at least weekly. 3.53. Garbage Grinders

Garbage grinders supplemented by incinerators or burn and cover system for trash are an adequate method of disposal at water-bound or similar harbordefense installations.

3.54. Stands and Receptacles

Post commanders will require the appropriate supply agency to provide suitable receptacles for segregation of refuse and salvage into specific classes to meet the requirements of salvage regulations and of the collection and disposal systems. Clear markings will be placed near each container and not on the container to indicate the type of materials to be placed therein. All pick-up stations will be provided with suitable receptacle stands and receptacles as required in TM 5-634.