The Charles River Associates report, commissioned by Veolia, reveals hazardous waste management as an invisible yet indispensable pillar of the U.S. economy. At over 30 million tons annually—200 pounds per person—the sector underpins industries from food production to pharmaceuticals, where even life-saving medicines depend on chemical inputs that generate hazardous byproducts. The report anticipates a sharp rise in hazardous waste generation, projecting an additional 5 million tons per year by 2033 as industrial reshoring accelerates and strategic sectors like semiconductor manufacturing and battery production expand. Yet the gap between supply and demand in hazardous waste capacity could cost the U.S. economy between $27 and $82 billion over the next decade, according to the analysis.
“Hazardous waste management plays a far more important role in our economies than many people realize,” said Estelle Brachlianoff, CEO of Veolia. “This analysis helps put that role into perspective and underscores why ensuring an expert, cutting-edge, reliable management capacity is so important to economic strength and resilience.” The report makes clear that the question is not whether demand will grow, but whether the infrastructure and expertise can keep pace with industrial expansion.
Bob Cappadona, President and CEO of Veolia North America, emphasized the dual imperative of capacity growth and environmental protection. “Proper treatment and disposal of hazardous waste helps protect public health while advancing the economy,” he said during National Pollution Prevention Week. “We’re particularly proud to highlight the role we play in protecting people and the planet through our treatment processes, helping recover valuable resources while preventing pollution from entering the environment.”
Alan Jaske, the report’s author and Associate Principal at CRA, pointed to the sector’s hidden ubiquity. “One of the clearest findings of the report is just how ubiquitous hazardous waste management is across the economy, with a large number of everyday products depending on it somewhere in their production,” Jaske said. “The ability to effectively manage hazardous waste is therefore a material consideration not only for environmental policy and public health, but also for industrial activity and economic growth.”
Veolia’s operational footprint in North America reflects its scale as a major player in hazardous waste management. Following the acquisition of Clean Earth in June 2026, Veolia operates more than 100 service centers, 33 treatment, storage and disposal facilities, six high-temperature incineration units, and holds over 700 operating permits across the country. With 5,500 employees, the company leverages advanced technologies like its Beyond PFAS offering to address complex waste streams in high-demand regions such as Arkansas, Texas, Arizona, New Jersey, and California.
The report’s findings arrive at a pivotal moment. As U.S. industrial policy prioritizes reshoring and next-generation manufacturing, hazardous waste infrastructure must evolve to support—not constrain—this growth. The stakes are clear: insufficient capacity doesn’t just risk environmental harm, but threatens to stifle economic expansion. The question now is whether investment, innovation, and policy coordination can close the gap in time.