Recycling and recovery
Closed loop recycling
Getting your own material back, and when that is worth paying for.
Closed loop recycling returns your specific material to you rather than pooling it with other generators' streams. It costs more per gallon and makes sense where the material is high value, the specification is tight, or provenance matters.
Source: 40 CFR 261.4(a)(8) on closed loop reclamationPooled versus closed loop
Pooled recovery combines compatible streams from several generators, distills the combined volume, and sells the recovered product on. It is cheaper because the batch sizes are larger and the logistics are simpler. What you get is a disposal cost reduction.
Closed loop keeps your material segregated through the whole process and returns it to you. It costs more because the batches are smaller and the handling is dedicated. What you get is your solvent back, which is a different proposition when the material is expensive or the specification is tight.
When closed loop pays
- High value or specialty solvents where replacement cost is significant
- Tight specification requirements that pooled product cannot reliably meet
- Processes where provenance or traceability matters, such as pharmaceuticals
- High volume single solvent streams where dedicated batches are efficient
- Sites with sustainability commitments that specify material circularity
Common questions
How much of my solvent comes back?
Typically 60 to 90 percent by volume, depending on contamination. The still bottoms carry the original codes and still need a disposal route.
Is closed loop always more expensive?
Per gallon processed, yes. Net of the replacement solvent you no longer buy, frequently not. The comparison worth running is total cost including purchase, not disposal cost alone.
Does closed loop change the regulatory position?
A narrow exclusion exists at 40 CFR 261.4(a)(8) for closed loop reclamation within a single production process, which is different from off site recovery. Off site closed loop recovery is still hazardous waste management with manifests and codes.
Related services
Not sure how this applies to your site?
Send a profile, an old manifest, or photographs of the drums. A technical professional will tell you where you stand.
This page summarizes federal requirements and is not legal advice. State programs can be more stringent than the federal baseline. Verify against current federal and state regulations before acting. Last reviewed September 2026.