Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Navy's shipboard solid and plastics waste management program, focusing on the: (1) status of the Navy's plans for meeting solid and plastic waste disposal requirements; (2) solid waste processing equipment the Navy has developed in accordance with these plans; and (3) cost to develop the solid waste processing equipment.

GAO found that: (1) since the enactment of marine pollution legislation in 1987, the Navy has proposed two plans to develop and procure solid waste processing equipment; (2) the Navy has estimated that it would take up to 11 years to develop, produce, and install the equipment necessary to meet shipboard solid waste discharge requirements; (3) in 1993, the Navy revised the equipment requirements stipulated in its original waste management plan; (4) between 1979 and 1993, the Navy spent $26 million to research, develop, and acquire solid waste processing equipment; (5) the Navy projects that between 1992 and 1999 it will require an additional $901 million to develop, acquire, and install shipboard solid waste processing equipment; (6) the Navy is currently reconsidering its projected solid waste processing program costs due to legislative changes to the program; and (7) the Navy estimates that between 1997 and 1999 it will need an additional $24 million for research and development of solid waste processing equipment to be used onboard submarines.