A Guide to Proper Industrial Waste Disposal Procedures

Millions of American industrial facilities produce both non-hazardous and hazardous waste every year. Most experts estimate that the United States alone creates 7.6 billion tons of industrial solid waste annually – and all of that waste needs to be dealt with.

The industrial waste disposal industry is responsible for providing ways to safely and effectively get rid of billions of tons of waste. Considering that hazardous waste can pose a serious threat to the environment and human health, both local and federal governments have created strict regulations for industrial waste disposal procedures.

With global industrial waste expected to increase by 70% by the year 2050, it’s more crucial than ever that organizations and facilities take the proper steps to dispose of their generated waste.

In this guide, we'll address how to dispose of industrial waste, then guide you toward critical industrial waste disposal products used in different industries.

What is Industrial Waste?

Before we explain how to dispose of industrial waste, let's first define it. Industrial waste includes any solid, liquid, or gaseous materials that are produced as the result of an industrial process or manufacturing activity. These materials can be further classified as…

• Chemical waste (solvents, dyes, transmission fluids)
• Liquid waste (industrial wastewater)
• Solid waste (solid byproducts like paper, wood, or cardboard)
• Hazardous/toxic waste (cleaning solvents, metal finishing, medical waste)

Whether it’s toxic sludge produced by a factory or residue left from laboratory experiments, industrial waste needs to be handled with care to prevent harm. Each manufacturer or organization is responsible for safely disposing of the materials they produce.

The different categories of waste follow different Industrial waste disposal procedures. Still, although waste disposal tactics vary from industry to industry, some common steps apply across the board.

How to Dispose of Industrial Waste

1) Segregation

The first step in learning how to dispose of industrial waste is figuring out how to separate it into the correct categories. Typically, all waste will fall into one of the following categories:

1. Recyclables
2. Hazardous waste
3. Non-hazardous waste

Properly segregating waste into these categories helps you determine which kind of containment solution to use and may also play a role in determining safe transportation methods. Furthermore, most disposal sites only accept certain kinds of industrial waste.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes the majority of segregation and transportation regulations, as well as the distinctions between non-hazardous and hazardous wastes. To learn if your waste is considered hazardous, visit the EPA website

2) Transportation

The next step in safe industrial waste disposal is determining how to move it to the appropriate disposal facility. The EPA has set strict regulations on waste transportation – especially for the disposal of hazardous waste.

It’s estimated that at least 4 billion tons of regulated hazardous materials are shipped within the United States each year. All of this waste must be adequately managed to ensure there is no threat to human health or the environment.

To deliver industrial waste for disposal, each transportation company must have an EPA identification number and must comply with the EPA’s hazardous waste manifest system. They must also obey all of the applicable US DOT hazardous material regulations.

3) Disposal

The last step in all industrial waste disposal procedures is the actual disposal of the materials. Acceptable disposal sites vary depending on the type of waste, as well as the industrial waste disposal products used.

Most solid hazardous and non-hazardous wastes are taken to land disposal units, including:

• Landfills
• Surface impoundments
• Land treatment
• Land farming
• Underground injections

Typically, industrial landfills and recycling facilities will only accept solid industrial waste that is non-hazardous. If you are dealing with hazardous waste, you will need to find a center that accepts toxic materials or schedule a pickup with a hazardous waste disposal company.

Non-hazardous waste can also be recycled for future use. Many facilities have industrial composting systems in place of landfills, or they burn items like containers and filters to make something new.

Recycling can often be a great alternative to land disposal as it reduces costs, saves energy, and improves sustainability.

Find the Right Industrial Waste Disposal Products

Under the “cradle to grave” regulations in America, every industrial waste generator is responsible for fully treating, transporting, and disposing of the materials they create. That’s why every kind of company needs to know how to dispose of industrial waste – correctly.

At PacTec Inc., we’re here to help you safely and efficiently dispose of your waste materials. We’ve spent decades creating high-quality packaging, spill containment solutions, and waste containment options. These industrial waste disposal products are designed to help keep humans, animals, and the environment safe.

Are you looking for a customized waste disposal solution? Let us know. The PacTec team is happy to match you with the right option to meet your industrial waste disposal procedures.

Call 877-554-2544 or send us a message online today. You can also email info@pactecinc.com to learn more.