The WIPE Act gives the Department of Defense permission to use specialized waste disposal systems to destroy illegal and dangerous materials that the military seizes or needs to get rid of. This includes counterfeit goods, stolen military equipment, illegal drugs, and classified documents. These disposal systems would be available at military bases, forward operating bases, and can be shared with partner countries to help stop smuggling and theft of military equipment.

The bill also includes an important health and environmental protection: it bans the military from using open-air burn pits to dispose of contraband, classified equipment, or hazardous waste. This is significant because burn pits have been linked to serious health problems for military personnel and environmental damage. Instead of burning these materials in the open, the military must use proper disposal systems.

To pay for these new waste disposal systems, Congress is providing $8.95 million in funding for fiscal year 2026. The money comes from reducing spending on open-air burn pits in overseas military operations by the same amount. Essentially, the government is redirecting funds away from the old, harmful burn pit method and toward safer, more controlled disposal technology.