Program Overview
Birdon has delivered multiple successful deployments to Diego Garcia, supporting the United States Navy with the safe, compliant and environmentally responsible disposal and recycling of recyclable materials.
Operating under strict environmental and defence protocols, Birdon’s team were responsible for the sale and export of all recyclable materials including scrap metal, plastics, tires and sealed units for a 5 year period. Deployments were conducted from Birdon’s USA head office in Denver, with operations managed on-site at the Solid Waste Facility (SWF) in Diego Garcia.
Quick Facts
- Client
United States Navy
- Location
Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory
- Lifecycle Stage
Decommission – Disposal, Recycling
- Timeline
2021–2026
Objectives
- Remove and recycle hazardous and non-hazardous materials from the Solid Waste Facility
- Support US Navy environmental goals through circular economy practices
- Maintain operational readiness and compliance with defence-grade standards
Challenges
- Extreme weather conditions including heat, humidity and rain affecting equipment and access
- Coordination with multiple stakeholders including the US Navy, KBR and SWF management
- Operating in a remote island environment
Birdon’s Approach
Birdon deployed a highly skilled team and specialised equipment to execute the project across multiple deployments.
Heavy equipment including excavator-mounted shears, forklifts, telehandlers and sideloaders were used to safely process, handle and export materials. Hazardous and mixed waste streams, including sealed units and contaminated plastics, were sorted and processed without incident.
Environmental controls were maintained through daily housekeeping, PPE compliance and toolbox talks, ensuring safe and compliant operations. Birdon worked closely with US Navy representatives and SWF management to ensure that loading was completed safely and in the most cost effective way. Through Birdon’s existing relationships in the scrap metal market, materials were exported and ultimately recycled in multiple locations around the world.
Outcomes & Impact
Material recovery rates of 96% to 100% were achieved through the program’s processing and export activities.
The project recorded zero lost time injuries across all deployments, while successfully clearing and remediating multiple yard zones within the Solid Waste Facility.
Birdon’s performance strengthened relationships with the United States Navy, KBR and British Government representatives, reinforcing its capability in delivering complex decommissioning and recycling operations in remote environments.
Capabilities in Action
- Large-scale material processing and recycling operations in remote environments
- Hazardous and non-hazardous waste management including sealed units and contaminated materials
- Deployment of specialised heavy equipment for safe material handling and processing
- Adaptive logistics and container management to support export operations
- Stakeholder coordination across defence, contractors and facility management
- Delivery under ISO-certified HSEQ Management Systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001)
