Heavy Industrial Waste Recycling & Beneficial Reuse
Recycling and reuse solutions for heavy industry byproducts such as slag, foundry sand, refractory brick, baghouse dust, and mill scale. Waste Optima audits materials, secures beneficial-use approvals, coordinates bulk logistics, and provides diversion reporting for mills, foundries, and cement and lime plants across the U.S.
Solutions for heavy industry
From slag and spent sand to baghouse dust and refractory brick, we help foundries, steel mills, and cement and lime plants manage their most challenging byproducts through recycling and beneficial reuse. Our landfill diversion programs are designed to meet regulatory requirements while lowering costs, improving operations, and supporting long-term sustainability.
Learn more about industrial recycling from these blog posts:
Types of Materials
Foundry sand
Slag
Refractory brick
Baghouse dust
Spent abrasives or filter media
Aggregates and fines
Scrap metal
Mill scale
How It Works
Waste audit & goals – volumes, physical form, chemistry/COA, handling and loading.
Sampling & qualification – COA and lab data review, trial load(s), outlet QA and acceptance.
Approvals & compliance – beneficial-use determinations where required; documentation setup.
Logistics & execution – bulk, roll-off, dump, super sack, or railcar; scheduling and routing.
Reporting & optimization – diversion reports, cost/quality feedback, and continuous improvement.
Why Partner With Us
Built on our Sustainable³ Framework (economic, operational, environmental).
Deep experience with heavy industrial byproducts and mineral wastes.
Reliable national logistics for bulk, truck, and rail movements.
Support for reduced-landfill and zero-landfill targets.
Custom contracts for high-volume generators and ongoing programs.
Creative thinking for hard-to-place materials like dusts, fines, and mixed streams.
Industries Served
Steel mills • Foundries • Cement & lime • Glass & minerals • Engineered stone • Abrasives & shot-blast • Refractory producers • Heavy manufacturers and fabricators
Get a free waste assessment now
Send your COA or lab data, photos, packaging/handling details, and average weekly or monthly volumes. We’ll respond with likely outlets, any required trial steps, and a logistics plan.
Heavy Industrial FAQs
Which heavy-industry materials do you recycle or reuse?
We work with foundry sand, slag and clinker, refractory brick, baghouse dust, spent abrasives and filter media, aggregate fines, scrap metal, and mill scale, matched to qualified outlets based on chemistry, form, and volume.
What are the most common beneficial-reuse outlets?
Depending on chemistry and moisture, typical outlets include cement/raw mix, aggregate and engineered fill, soil stabilization, mineral fillers, and metal recovery. Our goal is to replace virgin materials wherever practical while keeping compliance front and center.
How do you qualify an outlet for my material?
We review COA or lab data and photos, arrange sampling and trial loads where needed, confirm the outlet’s QA requirements, secure any required state beneficial-use approvals, and then lock in a repeatable logistics and reporting process.
What minimum volumes and packaging do you need?
Best economics usually come with bulk or full-truckload/rail quantities. We also handle roll-offs, covered bins, super sacks, and dump trucks—depending on material and outlet needs. Smaller volumes may be feasible when combined into recurring programs.
Do you support national, multi-site programs?
Yes. We support multi-plant networks with centralized coordination, regional outlets, and consolidated reporting across sites, so corporate teams can see tonnage, outlets, and financial impacts in one place.
How is pricing determined, and what documentation do you need to start?
Pricing reflects material value and outlet type, contamination and moisture, distance and logistics, and handling requirements. To begin, we typically ask for a brief description of the material, COA or lab data, photos, volumes, storage/loading method, and any existing approvals or constraints.
Last updated: 2025-11-03