END THE HYDROCARBON WASTE CYCLE:
- conserve water
- eliminate toxic, solvent based cleaners
- eliminate landfill waste and downstream impact
- lower labor costs associated with traditional remediation methods
- eliminate environmental impact as a result of hydrocarbon related spills, drips and drops that make their way into our rivers, lakes, streams and oceans.
REDUCE LANFILL WASTE BY TRANSITIONING TO RENEWABLE ABSORBENTS
Annual estimate of oil-saturated absorbent materials that end up in a landfill annually is estimated to exceed 250,000 tons annually in the US alone.
We can dramatically reduce this human health, environmental health impact.
We can eliminate the residual impact of hydrocarbon drips and drops (discharge and spills) with the use of sustainable technology that is renewable and regenerative, creating no downstream landfill waste.
Estimates for the volume of oil-absorbent materials disposed of in U.S. landfills annually range widely due to differences in reporting across industries, varying state regulations, and the diverse types of absorbents used. In total, industrial operations generate hundreds of thousands of tons of oil-contaminated waste each year, including absorbent materials like pads, booms, and granules.
While exact figures are elusive, data from various sources, including the EPA, suggest that the annual volume of petroleum-contaminated absorbents entering U.S. landfills likely ranges from tens to hundreds of thousands of tons. This includes absorbent waste from routine industrial operations, vehicle maintenance, and spill response activities across sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, and oil and gas.
Some estimates break down the waste by industry type or material. For instance:
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Automotive and Repair Shops: These contribute a substantial amount, as maintenance tasks use oil-dry materials extensively, generating an estimated 100,000+ tons of oil-saturated waste annually.
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Oil and Gas Industry: Oil spill responses and routine operations in this industry alone contribute tens of thousands of tons.
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Manufacturing and Heavy Industry: These sectors also add significantly, particularly when routine cleanup or maintenance generates oily waste.
The total volume is challenging to calculate with precision, but combining estimates from major sectors suggests a range likely exceeding 250,000 tons annually in the U.S. alone. This volume underscores the importance of alternative disposal and recycling methods, as well as the push for environmentally-friendly sorbents and circular waste management solutions.
Matt Ciantar
312-485-2962
mciantar@oillift.net