Dig Deeper with Waste Optima’s Blog Posts
What the 2024 EREF Report Says About U.S. Landfill Costs
The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) has released its annual “Analysis of MSW Landfill Tipping Fees — 2024”, providing the most comprehensive look yet at how much it costs to dispose of municipal solid waste (MSW) across the United States.
Surplus Chemicals at Terminals: Redistribution, Reuse & Rapid Monetization
Cancelled orders and no-shows leave terminals holding perfectly good, new-in-drum chemicals. Instead of sitting on liability and storage costs, here’s how to move compliant, sealed product into responsible downstream uses quickly.
Rejected Freight & Stranded Inventory: How 3PLs Turn “Problem Loads” into Cash
Stranded inventory after a cancelled PO or consignee refusal doesn’t have to become a write-off. This guide shows warehouses and 3PLs exactly how to monetize rejected, refused, or unclaimed freight—fast—while staying compliant and protecting relationships.
Liquidate Excess Inventory Without Losing Value
Every business runs into the same problem sooner or later: too much stuff sitting in the warehouse. It could be products tied to a canceled order, last season’s line that didn’t sell through, or packaging that became outdated after a rebrand. Whatever the reason, excess inventory ties up cash and clogs valuable space.
Efficient Recycling in Factories: Best Practices for Waste Reduction
Wondering how to improve recycling in factories? This article provides practical steps, from waste audits to investing in recycling equipment, to help you reduce waste and save costs.
Industrial Waste Optimization: A Guide to Improving Costs, Operations, & the Environment
Most companies think about waste only when a dumpster is full or an invoice arrives. Waste optimization flips that mindset. Instead of just “taking out the trash,” you design how waste leaves your facility so it costs less, runs smoother, and supports your environmental goals.
Factory Seconds Explained: How to Turn Imperfect Products Into Profit
Every manufacturer faces the reality of factory seconds — products that are functional but don’t meet retail’s strict quality standards. A small scratch, dent, misprint, or outdated package can prevent a product from being sold as first-quality.
Why “Industrial Recycling Near Me” Isn’t Always Local
Searching “industrial recycling company near me” usually surfaces nearby scrap yards, cardboard recyclers, or municipal MRFs. Those can be great for pallets, OCC, and basic container service. But most manufacturers and warehouses also generate streams that are heavier, more complicated, or more specialized than the local shop is built to handle. That’s where a wider outlet network and a national operating model often outperform “closest to me.”
Excess Inventory: Strategies to Recover Value and Free Up Space
Excess inventory is one of the most common yet overlooked challenges in modern business. Every company — from consumer goods manufacturers to industrial suppliers — eventually finds itself with more product than it can sell.
Mill Scale Recycling: From Steel Waste to Valuable Resource
Every ton of steel produced generates byproducts that are often overlooked yet hold untapped value. One of the most important of these byproducts is mill scale—a flaky, dark, iron-rich material that forms on the surface of hot-rolled steel. For decades, mill scale was treated as waste, swept away and discarded.
US Industrial Waste Stats - The myth of 7.6 Billion Tons
If you’ve spent time in recycling literature, you’ve almost certainly seen the claim that the United States generates 7.6 billion tons of industrial waste each year. It’s quoted by consultants, repeated on agency handouts, and echoed across blogs and corporate pages.
Waste of Industries: A Guide to Definitions, Types, & Solutions
The waste of industries—sometimes called industrial refuse or factory waste—is one of the largest and least understood contributors to global waste streams. While municipal solid waste (household trash) often dominates public discussion, the reality is that industrial waste represents over 50% of total solid waste generated in the United States each year.
Industrial Recycling and Recovery: Turning Waste Into Resources
Industrial recycling and recovery are critical components of a modern, sustainable economy. Every year, U.S. industries generate nearly 8 billion tons of industrial solid waste—a figure that dwarfs municipal waste streams many times over.
Industrial Byproducts: Complete Guide to Managing Manufacturing Waste
Industrial byproducts are secondary materials generated from manufacturing, agricultural, and commercial processes that can be transformed from waste into valuable resources. This comprehensive guide covers what industrial byproducts are, how to manage them in accordance with regulatory requirements, and proven strategies to maximize their economic and environmental value for your facility.
Maximizing Efficiency with Industrial Materials Recycling Practices
Industrial materials recycling involves the reprocessing of waste from manufacturing operations—like metal scraps, baghouse dusts, and foundry sand—to conserve resources and minimize environmental impact.
Industrial Recycling for Sustainable Manufacturing
Industrial recycling plays a pivotal role in modern manufacturing, helping facilities reduce waste, lower costs, and promote environmental sustainability. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), industrial recycling programs have helped divert over 75 million tons of materials from landfills annually in the United States alone.
Breaking Free from Functional Fixedness in Industrial Waste
In psychology, one of the most powerful but overlooked concepts is functional fixedness—the tendency to see objects only in terms of their traditional use. It’s a cognitive bias that keeps us locked into narrow patterns of thinking, preventing us from seeing creative solutions that may be right in front of us.
Steel Slag Recycling for Mills & Foundries
Slag is one of the world’s oldest and most widespread industrial byproducts. Formed during the smelting or refining of metals, it has been both a challenge and an opportunity for industries for thousands of years. Today, slag recycling offers manufacturers, steelmakers, and foundries a chance to reduce waste, recover value, and support sustainable growth.
EPDM Rubber Recycling for Manufacturers
Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) rubber has become one of the most widely used synthetic elastomers in the world. Known for its durability, weather resistance, and versatility, EPDM is everywhere—from roofing membranes to automotive seals.
Beneficial Reuse: How Industrial Waste Becomes a Resource
When companies think about waste, they often picture costly disposal and complex regulations. But what if that same material could become a resource instead of a liability?
That’s the promise of beneficial reuse…