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—a strategy that transforms certain industrial byproducts into usable materials, helping businesses reduce landfill costs, and improve sustainability metrics.
What Is Beneficial Reuse?
Beneficial reuse—also called “beneficial use”—refers to the approved practice of using industrial byproducts or other waste-like materials in a way that replaces virgin materials and delivers environmental, operational, or economic value.
Unlike standard recycling, which usually involves processing and re-manufacturing, beneficial reuse often requires minimal transformation—just testing, approvals, proper documentation and finding end users.
According to the U.S. EPA’s Sector Strategies Program, beneficial reuse conserves natural resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and provides significant cost savings to manufacturers.
Materials Commonly Used in Beneficial Reuse
Some of the most common candidates for beneficial reuse include:
Foundry sand – Reused in concrete, road base, and embankments. Supported by the American Foundry Society for its value in construction and agriculture.
Cement kiln dust (CKD) – Applied as a soil amendment or road base.
Coal combustion residuals (fly ash, bottom ash) – Used in cement, concrete, and structural fills.
Gypsum drywall scrap – Reused in agriculture or board production.
Dredged sediments – Beneficially reused for habitat restoration and levee construction, especially in states like California.
Treated wastewater – Reclaimed for irrigation or industrial use, as in New Jersey’s Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse (RWBR) program.
Demolition debris – Concrete, brick, and asphalt reused in new construction or fill.
Industries like metals manufacturing, power generation, agriculture, and pharmaceuticals increasingly seek to convert these byproducts into usable commodities.
Benefits of Beneficial Reuse
Done correctly, beneficial reuse offers powerful advantages:
Cost savings – Reduces or eliminates landfill fees.
Landfill diversion – Helps meet corporate zero-waste or sustainability goals.
Regulatory compliance – Many states encourage reuse over disposal.
Reduced resource extraction – Conserves raw materials like sand, gravel, and cement.
Enhanced ESG performance – Demonstrates environmental leadership to investors, customers, and communities.
According to Beneficial Reuse Management (BRM), organizations working across 25 states have found reuse to be not just a compliance strategy but a business growth opportunity.
State-Level Beneficial Reuse Programs
Each state has different criteria for what qualifies as beneficial reuse. Here’s a list of several state-specific programs and definitions:
Kentucky – Allows “permit-by-rule” reuse of select materials like clean soil and certain industrial wastes.
Michigan – Maintains five defined categories of beneficial use byproducts (BUBs) under Part 115.
Ohio – Operates a specific program for evaluating reuse of industrial materials.
New York – Requires Beneficial Use Determinations (BUDs) for any reuse not already pre-approved.
California – Focuses on reuse of dredged sediments in wetlands restoration.
New Jersey – Has a robust RWBR program for treated effluent and industrial wastewater.
If your business operates in multiple states, it’s important to work with a partner who understands how to navigate these regional differences.
What’s the Approval Process Like?
Here’s a simplified outline of how beneficial reuse approval typically works:
Material Characterization
Lab testing confirms chemical makeup, pH, moisture content, metals, organics, etc.Regulatory Review
Based on test results, you determine whether the material qualifies for pre-approved reuse or needs a case-by-case approval (e.g., a BUD application in New York).Application Submission
You file documentation with your state agency—this may include maps, data sheets, intended use, and environmental impact assessments.Agency Response
States like Ohio or Michigan may respond with approval, a request for more data, or rejection.Implementation and Monitoring
Some reuse projects require annual reporting or follow-up sampling to ensure compliance.
In total, the process can take 3–12 months depending on the material, the state, and whether you’re applying under a general or site-specific determination.
It’s not fast—but it’s worth it. Once approved, beneficial reuse can save tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars annually in disposal and purchasing costs.
Challenges and Limitations
Beneficial reuse isn’t a silver bullet. It requires planning, testing, and persistence. Here are a few of the downsides and potential roadblocks:
Approval timelines – Many programs require a Beneficial Use Determination (BUD) or similar process, which can take months.
Analytical testing – You must demonstrate that your material is safe and won’t contaminate soil, air, or water.
Regulatory uncertainty – Each state has unique rules, and not all regulators interpret “reuse” the same way.
Market access – Even if reuse is approved, finding local end users can be a challenge without a reuse network. In many cases, this part is even more complicated than the regulatory process itself. Successful reuse often depends on actively creating demand for the material through a reliable and consistent network of downstream users. This is where working with a third party like Waste Optima really adds value—we know how to source partners and end users needed to move material quickly, legally, and sustainably.
Call to Action: Let Waste Optima Help
At Waste Optima, we help companies turn waste into opportunity.
Whether you're dealing with gypsum board scraps, foundry sand, off-spec product, or other byproducts, we help you:
Assess materials for beneficial reuse potential
Navigate state regulatory frameworks
Submit and manage BUD or permit applications
Connect with end users, processors, or land application sites
Reduce waste disposal costs and improve sustainability metrics
Our Sustainable³™ Framework ensures that your reuse strategy is economically sound, operationally simple, and environmentally responsible.
👉 Contact Waste Optima today to discuss whether your industrial byproducts are good candidates for beneficial reuse.
