Bomb disposal experts called after hand grenade dumped at Wastebusters
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Members of the army's bomb squad were called to Wānaka this weekend after a hand grenade was discovered among dumped rubbish.
Staff at Wānaka Wastebusters acted quickly in contacting police after the potential explosive was found on Saturday afternoon.
Police then called in army experts, who arrived on Sunday afternoon to safely dispose of the item.
They determined there was no charge or detonator in the device - likely a relic from World War One.
Wastebusters general manager Gina Dempster says front yard staff acted swiftly upon realising the unusual donation.
"The team did a great job keeping staff and customers safe by securing the grenade in a safe place and involving the police straight away," she says.
"Fortunately it turned out that there was no explosive in the grenade, but no-one could ascertain that until the trained army experts arrived the following day to deal with it safely.”
Senior Constable Bruce McLean says the action taken by Wastebusters staff was "spot on", but he urges anyone unsure of the safety of an item in their possession to contact police in the first instance.
"If there’s any risk to a person - be it from a bio hazard, an explosive, anything - give us a call. Don’t just turn up with it."
New Zealand Army personnel at Wastebusters on Sunday have confirmed the grenade as being a Mills 23 grenade from the early 1900s.
Wastebusters was able to stay open throughout the incident, with the grenade contained in an upstairs area at a safe distance from staff and customers.
So, how did a weapon likely originating a battle more than a century ago end up among items dropped off at the transfer station?
Apparently, a spring clean of a local garden shed uncovered the grenade.
After viewing CCTV footage, police have been able to track down and speak to the resident involved.
Ms Dempster says Wastebusters has a procedure and facilities to deal with the unexpected, and have had items such as rabbit poison and ammunition dropped off before, but having a grenade on site was a first for the team.
"We are very grateful to the professionalism of both the Wānaka police, and army personnel who responded and ensured the grenade was safely removed from our site."
If you’re getting into the spring clean of things by sorting out your garage or shed and you find something out of the ordinary, here’s a few options to help you dispose of it safely:
- For explosives, guns or weapons, contact the Police on 105 (non-emergency) or 111 (in an emergency)
- For hazardous waste, including substances harmful to people or the environment, call the transfer station on 03 341 2092
- For anything else check the Queenstown Lakes District Council's A-Z Directory at qldc.govt.nz/services/rubbish-recycling
Main image (Supplied/Wastebusters): Wastebusters front yard team member Simon McKenzie in an old army helmet that was dropped off on Sunday, September 26, 2024. A helmet is a military momentos that Wastebusters can accept - a grenade is not.
