No Cruise Control
On behalf of all of WTS, we would like to extend our wishes to you for a safe and productive summer. WTS is completing and celebrating our 40th year in business. Yet, even with life’s predictable turns, the changing of the seasons, the pages turning over on a calendar, we continue to adapt to the many curves and changes in our industry. As much as we wish we could, there is no cruise control we can set.
Our industry still faces strong headwinds and unprecedented challenges. Early last year in a series of updates that we posted here (https://wtsonline.com/driver-shortages-and-the-impact-on-waste-and-by-product-transportation/; https://wtsonline.com/escalating-prices-for-transportation-and-disposal-of-materials/; https://wtsonline.com/incineration-capacity-constraints-and-the-ripple-effects-on-the-management-of-rcra-wastes/) we outlined some of the challenges our industry was facing.
These issues continue to confront us with the lack of incineration capacity remaining paramount. This is at the core of increased pricing reverberating throughout the waste disposal industry beyond inflationary pressures. Based on industry estimates, if all primary domestic commercial incinerators are back at their normal capacity throughout 2023, we could have an additional 20 – 30,000 tons of capacity in 2023 compared to 2022. However, we are likely looking at 50 – 60,000 tons of backlog. This clearly leaves us with ongoing difficulties to obtain incineration slots well into 2024.
I assure you that our WTS team remains committed to facing these challenges head on and that we will always remain as a strong champion for you our stakeholders in delivering the fair and compliant services that we have built our business on. We continue to invest in people and technology to help us, and you, address these issues. Where feasible we will evaluate alternative facilities and disposal methods to incineration, where applicable, compliantly exit RCRA for your hazardous waste generation to mitigate price increases and contribute to achieving your sustainability objectives. There is no cruise control available to us. We continue to adapt and navigate together through the many industry curves we encounter.
In this Stakeholder update, we are pleased to bring you news regarding WTS being honored as the Responsible Care Partner of the Year for a record setting 9th time!!!! From a Health and Safety perspective, helpful tips for working in the warmer weather. Two regulatory updates – the first regarding USEPA’s e-Manifest program for Hazardous Waste where we don’t see much traction (be on the lookout for a new fee structure to be announced by USEPA on or around July 1st) and the second on the 2018 Definition of Solid Waste where we are very pleased with some recent developments.
Once again, our best wishes for a happy and healthy summer.
Together,
