Discovery of mortar at WJ waste management facility brings police response
Feb 22, 2018, 12:13 AM | Updated: 6:31 pm
WEST JORDAN — The discovery of what appeared to be a mortar at a garbage handling and recycling facility Wednesday led to a response by police, fire and a bomb technician.
Waste Management plant manager Walt Mathiason said a worker at the facility, located at 8652 S. 4000 W., found the mortar on the sorting line and notified managers, who called for help to handle the device.
After a bomb technician examined the mortar, West Jordan Police Officer Scott List said it appeared to be an inert training round.
“From what I was told, this object was never intended to have any type of munitions in it, so (it’s) simply a training round,” List explained. “Now, whether it could be propelled or not—I don’t know—but (it was) never intended for any explosives.”
List said Wednesday afternoon that the mortar was being taken to Hill Air Force Base for disposal.
Dangerous Devices
Mathiason said this was not the first time something that was dangerous or appeared to be dangerous showed up at his plant.
“We get handguns, ammunition, propane tanks, needles,” Mathiason said.
He said something dangerous arrives essentially on a daily basis.
“Those are the kinds of things that could really hurt somebody,” Mathiason said.
Proper Disposal
Mathiason said mortars—inert or not—as well as guns, needles and propane tanks should never be simply discarded in the trash, or sent off for recycling.
List underscored the point, saying if someone knows a mortar or other explosive is inert, then the person should destroy the device before discarding it.
If anyone is uncertain whether a device is inert or not, List said the person should call police or fire, and a crew would come to the house to assess it.
Neighbors of the plant were stunned to learn of the discovery.
“There was somebody who really threw away a mortar?” Angie Johnson exclaimed. “That’s scary!”
Johnson was equally disturbed by some of the other items that have been thrown away.
“Why would you throw away a handgun, unless there’s like a murder or something?” Johnson questioned.
She said she did her part to be a responsible recycler, unlike others.
“I’ve been really careful just putting cartons and stuff in the (recycle bin),” Johnson said. “That is crazy!”
