The governor of Walloon Brabant, Gilles Mahieu, has initiated a groundbreaking partnership with the steel company Aperam to destroy 641 weapons.
These weapons were either seized through administrative processes in Walloon Brabant or voluntarily handed over by citizens of the province. They were emptied of ammunition and melted in the company’s electric furnace in Châtelet, transforming them into liquid steel.
Previously, weapons were mechanically dismantled and sold to scrapyards. "All of this was done under the supervision of a designated police officer," said Serge Dallenogare, director of the Aperam Châtelet site.
Yves Smets, a police commissioner and liaison officer with the governor’s office of the province, noted that "this initiative, at the intersection of public safety and sustainability, showcases an effective collaboration between authorities and the industrial sector."
He asserts that this cooperation could serve as a model for other regions in weapon destruction efforts.
The steel produced from this operation can be repurposed in various sectors, including the manufacturing of stainless steel worktops for the hospitality industry, automotive parts, and metallic components for public transport.
