A Second World War phosphorous grenade was discovered on Monday at a waste treatment site in Tenneville, Luxembourg Province of Wallonia, Belgium.
Workers noticed smoke emanating from a small metallic cylinder at around 15:00, Idelux Environnement, the inter-communal company in charge of the site, reported.
The cylinder was revealed to be a grenade from the 1940s, found amidst inert rubbish such as concrete, masonry, and bricks. Once identified, the local authorities were alerted and the police were informed.
A security perimeter of roughly 100 metres was established while the SEDEE de-mining service was awaited. By approximately 19:00, the SEDEE team arrived to neutralise the grenade.
Although the explosive device was handled several times before its identification, no injuries were reported. "It’s miraculous that no one was hurt," Idelux emphasised.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of proper waste sorting. Batteries, ammunition, and grenades should be removed from regular household waste along with electronic devices and plastic toys destined for recycling. Such items should not be included in blue PMC bags. "Sort well, sort better. Negligence can cost lives," Idelux stressed.
In instances where potentially explosive items such as weapons, grenades, ammunition, or shells are found, Idelux advises the public not to touch the object and to instantly contact local police. The SEDEE will then be contacted to dispose of the hazardous waste, as outlined on the BEP Environment website.
