VLS Environmental Solutions is setting a new standard in sustainable solutions with its innovative Carbon Black Program, operated at the company鈥檚 advanced Mauldin, South Carolina, facility. This initiative delivers results for clients鈥� sustainability goals by transforming challenging carbon black and ink/toner powder waste into fuel products, creating sustainable energy sources while reducing environmental impacts.
Through this program, VLS has worked with tire manufacturers and aircraft manufacturers to divert thousands of tons of material from landfills, reducing reliance on fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. Doug Dugan, Regional Vice President, highlighted the importance of these efforts. 鈥淥ur Carbon Black Program represents an important investment in how manufacturers manage this enormously challenging waste stream. By creating a sustainable alternative to disposal, we鈥檙e empowering our clients to reduce their environmental footprint鈥�
Carbon black and other powder waste streams are difficult to manage because of the ease in which these powders can dust the environment and contaminate surrounding areas. VLS has solved the airborne powder issue and combined with its highly regarded engineered fuels program to ensure the safe and efficient handling of this waste stream. Carbon black and ink/toner powders are collected, processed within a 100% contained system, and converted into an engineered fuel product.
鈥淥ur facility is capable of processing as much as 30-50 tons of material daily,鈥� said Adam Henderson, General Manager of the Mauldin facility. 鈥淲e continually address problems with difficult-to-handle waste streams, and we are proud of the process that our highly experienced team has engineered. We can take supersacks and drums in a fully contained, negative vacuum environment, and safely transform an airborne powder into a fuel product for offtake partners and prevent over 10,000 tons a year of powders from entering our landfills.鈥�
The Carbon Black Program is helping manufacturers nationwide achieve sustainability goals with a solution to prevent waste from going to landfill. By converting waste into energy, our waste to energy and engineered fuel programs have saved over 50,000 tons of coal usage each year, saving precious natural resources while reducing impact to landfills.
Chad Paul, Director of Sales, emphasized the importance of this program. 鈥淲e work with manufacturers every day as partners, working together and finding ways to solve waste problems. Our clients leverage our expertise in efficiently managing waste materials to drive operational efficiencies, improve their ROI, and all the while doing great things for the environment.鈥�
By continuing to invest and innovate processes the Carbon Black Program is yet another step in VLS鈥檚 leadership in environmental stewardship, enabling manufacturers to avoid landfills and reduce harmful emissions. 鈥淥ur program is a game-changer for many businesses,鈥� Henderson noted. 鈥淔or some of our partners, finding a way to sustainably manage carbon black waste is the missing piece in achieving 100% landfill-free operations. This initiative bridges that gap and does so while leading the way in cleaner energy production.鈥�