The Russian Defense Ministry environmental cleanup units have exceeded the target of their 2017 plan to remove scrap metal from the Arctic by 26 percent, TASS reports, citing Deputy Defense Minister Army General Dmitry Bulgakov.

"To date, we have collected over 5,500 metric tons of scrap metal against the 4,400 metric tons planned, and have transferred over 3,300 metric tons to the mainland," Bulgakov said.

The Northern Fleet units have also completed cleanup efforts on Kotelny Island, exceeding the target by 30 metric tons. The units have collected 15,000 metal barrels weighing 630 metric tons, Bulgakov said. The Central Military District environmental cleanup units have also finished their work with 731.4 metric tons of scrap metal collected in Norilsk, topping the target by 31 metric tons. The environmental cleanup on Wrangel Island is nearing completion as well, with a total of 8,730 metal barrels weighing 261 metric tons and 173 metric tons of scrap metal collected.

Over 1,225 metric tons of scrap metal have been collected on the Novaya Zemlya archipelago. Over 8.2 hectares of land were reclaimed after the demolition of structures. A total of 2,300 metric tons of scrap metal has already been transferred from the archipelago to the mainland this year.