Turn Waste Into Wins: How New EPA Rules Make Solvent Recycling a Business Strategy

What if your hazardous waste was not waste at all, but a recoverable asset that improves your margins and protects your operations?

Thanks to recent updates to the EPA’s Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) rules, industrial manufacturers have a powerful opportunity to rethink how they manage spent solvents. Under the right conditions, these materials can be classified as Hazardous Secondary Materials (HSM), which means they may no longer be considered hazardous waste. When solvent recycling meets the EPA’s criteria for “legitimate recycling” under 40 CFR §260.43, facilities can unlock a range of regulatory exemptions that reduce compliance burdens, lower costs, and improve operational flexibility.

However, these benefits are not automatic. To take advantage of the HSM rule, organizations must understand both the technical definitions and the compliance requirements that separate legitimate recycling from routine waste disposal. That’s where this white paper can help.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Differentiate between hazardous waste and recyclable HSM under federal law

• Reduce risk and save money by minimizing your hazardous waste footprint

• Meet the conditions required to qualify for and maintain HSM recycling exemptions

• Avoid costly missteps that could invalidate your exemption and reclassify materials as waste

For companies that generate large volumes of spent solvent, the stakes are high. The rewards are significant for those that act strategically. CleanPlanet’s solvent recycling model is designed to help you navigate this evolving regulatory environment with clarity and confidence.