An environmental protection unit from Russia's Eastern Military District is to collect over 600 metric tons of scrap metal on Wrangel Island next year, the district's press service reports.

"In 2018, the military environmentalists will continue to reclaim the land on Wrangel Island. For the first time ever they will work near Somnitelnaya Harbor and the former Zvyozdny airfield. They expect to collect over 600 metric tons of scrap metal," the statement notes.

Service personnel will collect and remove about 2,500 old metal drums with a total weight of over 320 metric tons. They will also compact empty drums weighing about 300 metric tons for removal in 2019.

The cleanup project is to involve a bulldozer, modern cranes, special-purpose KAMAZ vehicles, dump trucks and a tracked carrier. Two new PP-250 baling presses for compacting sheet metal will also be delivered to Wrangel Island.