Original Date: 08/20/2001
Revision Date: 12/14/2006

Working with local officials, Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems-Surface Systems established a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program for employees and local residents. The biweekly event provides participants with environmental education and an accessible site for disposing hazardous chemicals. The cooperation of state and local environmental agencies provided sustained ability to the effort.

Previously, Lockheed Martin Naval Electronics & Surveillance Systems-Surface Systems (NE&SS-SS) sponsored a once-a-year household hazardous waste (HHW) collection day. Wanting to improve this process and help reduce pollution in the local community, the company decided to revise its efforts.

In October 2000, Lockheed Martin NE&SS-SS, in conjunction with Burlington County officials, established an HHW Collection Program. Each month, the company sponsors two one-hour sessions where employees and local residents can bring hazardous waste for proper treatment/disposal. Volunteer employees (supervised by trained Environmental Services employees) greet participants, identify collected waste, combine similar waste, and store waste for collection. Types of waste accepted include latex and oil based paints; liquid and solid pesticides; waste oil; gasoline; kerosene; flammable aerosol cans; lead acid and alkaline batteries; flourescent lights; and corrosive liquids. The collection shed located just outside the security gates at Lockheed Martin NE&SS-SS is grounded for explosion safety and features a large containment tank, submerged below the floor, to capture accidental spillage. State and county officials worked together with Lockheed Martin NE&SS-SS’ Environmental Services to permit this beneficial community program. Collected waste is shipped by licensed transporter via bill of lading documentation to the Burlington County HHW Collection Facility for final determination.

The HHW Collection Program conforms to the company’s environmental, safety, and health policy as well as ISO- 14001 and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regulations. The program is the first of its kind in the state. Employees and local residents benefit from environmental education and the opportunity to dispose of unwanted chemicals in an environmentally responsible manner. Employees strive to practice proactive environmental stewardship and share this ethic with the community. During the first three-quarters of FY01, Lockheed Martin NE&SS-SS shipped 23 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste.

For more information see the Point of Contact for this survey.