U.S. Hazardous Waste Will Rise to 37.4 Million Tons

Manufacturing growth is set to push national hazardous waste generation higher by 2033.

Updated on Sept. 23, 2026 in Manufacturing

Isometric editorial illustration showing a row of industrial storage drums on a concrete floor, representing waste management infrastructure. — U.S. hazardous waste is projected to increase to 37.4 million tons by 2033, driven largely by growth in domestic manufacturing production. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should the U.S. prioritize increased domestic industrial production despite the environmental risk of hazardous waste?

U.S. hazardous waste generation will reach 37.4 million tons by 2033, an increase of 5 million tons from the 32.4 million tons produced in 2023. Manufacturing, which accounted for 90% of hazardous waste generation in 2023, is the primary driver of this projected growth.

Why it matters

Rising domestic production in semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, and steel, coupled with the reshoring of automotive manufacturing, creates significantly larger hazardous waste streams. Manufacturers are increasingly outsourcing the processing of this waste to commercial facilities instead of managing it on-site.

The hazardous waste sector generated $9 billion in revenue in 2023. Projections indicate a 1% capacity shortfall could put $27.5 billion in economic output at risk.

The players

Veolia

This transnational company provides water, waste, and energy management solutions and is currently expanding its industrial waste incineration capacity.

Environmental Protection Agency

This federal agency regulates hazardous waste management and provides periodic assessments of national waste capacity.

The details

Industry leaders like Veolia are expanding capacity, including a new 100,000-ton-per-year incinerator in Arkansas. Currently, the national infrastructure relies on 17 commercial landfills, 12 energy recovery facilities, and 11 incinerators to handle waste volumes.

2020: Veolia acquired an Arkansas site from Alcoa.
2021: 3M closed a Minnesota incinerator.
2023: Hazardous waste sector revenues reached $9 billion.
2025: EPA released the latest hazardous waste capacity assessment.
2033: Projected U.S. hazardous waste generation target date.

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Market Landscape

This growth reflects a structural shift toward outsourcing industrial waste management as manufacturing complexity increases. The industry must balance this rising demand against a finite number of active treatment facilities to ensure economic stability.

Rising waste management costs for manufacturers could eventually influence the retail pricing of consumer goods like electronics and pharmaceuticals. Businesses may also face supply chain disruptions if national waste treatment capacity fails to scale with production demands.

The takeaway

The projected surge in hazardous waste underscores the critical role of industrial infrastructure in supporting domestic manufacturing goals. Efficient scaling of waste processing is essential to prevent significant economic output losses by the next decade.