Understanding the National Challenge and Taking Action

The portable sanitation industry faces an unprecedented crisis: the limited availability of septage disposal sites. As treatment facilities close or reduce capacity, operators across North America are struggling to find safe, legal disposal options. Understanding this challenge and planning ahead is essential for your business survival.

What's Causing the Crisis?

Multiple factors created the current septage disposal emergency:

• Many treatment plants have closed due to maintenance costs and staffing challenges
• Regulatory restrictions limit acceptance of portable sanitation waste
• Infrastructure aging without replacement in many regions
• Population growth exceeds disposal capacity
• Environmental compliance costs rising dramatically
• Regional variations in acceptance policies

The result? Some operators are traveling 100+ miles to find disposal sites, driving up operational costs and reducing profitability.

Impact on Your Business

If you haven't felt the squeeze yet, you will. The crisis creates:

• Longer travel times for waste disposal (fuel, labor costs)
• Reduced number of pumping jobs per day
• Limited service availability during peak season
• Higher operational costs eating into margins
• Potential service disruptions if disposal becomes unavailable
• Difficulty winning contracts due to capacity constraints

Strategies to Adapt NOW

1. Build Relationships with Multiple Disposal Facilities

Don't rely on one disposal site. Research and establish connections with:

• All treatment facilities within reasonable distance
• Regional septage disposal programs
• Transfer station alternatives
• Neighboring operators (potential partnerships)
• Private disposal services

Having backup options ensures you can keep operating even if one facility changes policies.

2. Invest in Storage Capacity

Consider adding holding tanks to your fleet:

• Stage waste during high-demand periods
• Consolidate loads for more efficient disposal trips
• Reduce per-gallon disposal costs through bulk trips
• Maintain service availability even when disposal sites are busy

Storage isn't cheap, but it's cheaper than operational disruption.

3. Advocate for Local Solutions

Work with your industry association and local government to:

• Support pretreatment facility development
• Streamline approval processes for new disposal sites
• Provide input on regulatory policies
• Share data on the disposal crisis impact

The PSAI is actively working on this issue. Get involved.

4. Optimize Your Routes and Timing

Use software to maximize efficiency:

• Schedule disposal trips strategically (off-peak hours)
• Consolidate jobs to reduce total trips
• Route jobs closer to disposal facilities
• Track fuel costs and disposal efficiency metrics

SanMan software can help you identify these opportunities.

5. Consider Septage Pretreatment

This emerging option may become necessary:

• On-site treatment reduces disposal volume
• Treated effluent can be handled at some facilities
• Capital investment, but long-term savings potential
• Requires regulatory approval in your region

Early adopters may gain competitive advantage.

Pricing Adjustments

The disposal crisis is a legitimate reason to adjust pricing:

• Factor increased disposal costs into your rates
• Educate customers about the regional challenge
• Consider surcharges for customers in high-cost disposal zones
• Price services that maximize disposal efficiency higher

Customers understand rising costs when you explain the situation.

Plan for the Long Term

The disposal crisis won't resolve quickly. Position your business for sustainability:

• Build partnerships with other operators
• Invest in operational efficiency
• Stay informed about regulatory changes
• Participate in industry solutions
• Plan for potential facility openings

Learn More and Get Involved

The PSAI has published comprehensive resources on the septage disposal crisis. Access their whitepaper and stay updated on industry solutions. TOICO supports operators facing this challenge with equipment, expertise, and resources.

The disposal crisis is real, but prepared operators will adapt and thrive. Act now to strengthen your operational resilience. Contact TOICO at 1-888-935-1133 or visit www.toico.com to discuss solutions for your business.