Stockpile Destruction

A goal of mine action is to rid the world of all landmines, whether deployed in the field or stockpiled in armories.

While demining removes the landmines and unexploded ordinance (UXO) that are already in the ground and an immediate threat to people, stockpile destruction is directed at supplies of unused landmines. Destruction of stockpiled mines ensures future security, since these mines will not be available for use in future conflicts.

The Mine Ban Treaty requires each signatory nation to destroy all anti-personnel mine stockpiles (except for those retained for training in mine detection, clearance and destruction techniques) within four years of signing.

While there used to be several options for disposing of ammunition and explosives, international treaties which ban sales, gifts and dumping of landmines have made destruction the only remaining legal method.

Destruction is the only legal method of disposing of landmines.

Stockpile destruction is carried out by the military through open burning and open detonation (OBOD) or by civilian companies through industrial-scale demilitarization, which involves mechanical disassembly and environmentally controlled incineration. Although OBOD is the cheapest method of disposal, there are some environmental consequences. Therefore, many European countries have banned OBOD in favor of industrial scale demilitarization. For those countries that cannot afford demilitarization facilities, OBOD is still the best option.

Before mines are completely destroyed they have to be broken down. Methods include manual disassembly, mechanical disassembly, robotic disassembly, mechanical breakdown, cycofracture, hydro-abrasive cutting, laser cutting, and microwave melt-out. They are destroyed through various means, such as incineration, a Plasmic arc, mechanical technology, biological degradation, contained detonation or molten salt oxidation. The final stage, scrap processing, disposes of any remaining products.