Intelligent waste management program delivers half-million-dollar tax refund
At a glance
By improving the waste disposal management program, we are helping a United States railroad company save costs and streamline its compliance reporting. To provide lasting community and environmental benefits, we are facilitating the proper tracking and management of hazardous waste materials while enabling data analysis and smarter decision-making for the long term.
The challenge
As one of the primary railroad companies in the United States, our client required an effective reporting and analysis mechanism for the waste they generate across multiple divisions. With several ongoing projects occurring simultaneously across a large geography, with a variety of stakeholders and multiple business units involved (i.e., site remediation and HAZMAT), our client not only needed an efficient solution, but one that was representative of several unique geographies.
Because of the complex regulatory environment in the United States, especially along the West Coast, they required a compliant, timely and efficient reporting process that would also comply with federal, state, and local regulations. Without appropriate waste disposal management reporting in place, our client faced significant risks.
Our response
We customised disposal management and compliance services, which were comprised of the following components:
- Reviewing Waste Request Forms (WRFs) from the client
- Determining proper Federal and State classifications of wastes
- Managing regulatory and generator compliance
- Preparing and maintaining Hazardous Waste Contingency Plans (HWCP)
- Notifications of monthly generator status (LQG, SQG, CESQG)
- Providing sophisticated data management and entry into client-specific systems with GHD Navigator™
- Identifying trends in waste volumes, timetables for sampling, waste transportation, documentation, preparation, and on-going compliance support
- Minimising waste through recycling and reuse opportunities
- Completing compliance reporting following all State and Federal requirements and deadlines (Annual/Biennial RCRA Reporting, RCRA Waste Minimisation Plans, EPCRA Tier II Reporting, EPCRA Hazardous Management Business Plans) for each affected site
The impact
After working with the client and their strategic service providers, they were able to report and analyse waste shipments, as well as make waste determinations, develop sampling plans, and undertake additional compliance reporting.
To work smarter and more efficiently in an increasingly digitised world, this solution enabled the client to analyse the collected data and translate the information for future projects.
The project also identified numerous waste program improvements and efficiencies associated with state- regulated waste shipments. From utilising multiple spreadsheets for waste tracking and reporting purposes, the client now manages and tracks all waste shipment information in GHD Navigator™ eliminating the use of multiple spreadsheets.
As the project evolved, our client drastically improved their waste disposal management program and corresponding reporting, which accurately represented their handling of hazardous waste.
Finally, thanks to an accurate reporting system in place, we were able to help the client to negotiate a ~USD500,000 tax refund from a state regulatory agency based on previously over-reported waste shipments.
Thank you, GHD employees, for staying on top of all of our disposal management procedures and compliance services, while ensuring that we get our reporting done in a timely manner.