Salt Reclamation Project – North Carolina
When 200 tons of road salt solidified into an unusable brick from weather exposure, most contractors would have hauled it to a landfill—but U.S. Waste Industries saw an opportunity for innovation. Using specialized grinding equipment, we reclaimed the entire 200-ton mass in just 2 days, transforming it back into free-flowing, usable road salt and saving the client thousands in replacement costs.
This North Carolina project demonstrates our commitment to recycling, reuse, and finding cost-effective solutions that keep valuable materials out of landfills.
The Challenge: 200 Tons of Solidified Road Salt
A North Carolina client contracted with U.S. Waste Industries to dispose of a massive 200-ton brick of road salt that had become unusable. Here’s what happened:
Since inclement weather in freezing temperatures is unpredictable in this climate, the client had amassed an oversupply of rock salt one year. With all indoor storage facilities at capacity, they were forced to store the excess salt outdoors.
When calculating their inventory before the following winter, they discovered a major problem: exposure to the elements—rain, wind, and sun—had turned the large pile of free-flowing salt into one solid, unusable brick.
The solidified salt presented several challenges:
- Completely unusable – The solid mass couldn’t be spread on roads or loaded into trucks
- Expensive to replace – Purchasing 200 tons of new road salt would cost thousands of dollars
- Disposal costs – Hauling the material to a landfill would add transportation and tipping fees
- Environmental waste – Throwing away perfectly good salt that could still serve its purpose
The client assumed disposal was their only option and contacted us to handle the removal.
Our Solution: Innovation Over Disposal
Our years of experience with recycling, reuse, and reclamation projects enabled us to approach this issue from a new perspective. The road salt still had value as a commodity—it shouldn’t go to waste in a landfill when it could be reclaimed and reused.
We proposed an alternative solution: instead of hauling the salt away, we would reclaim it on-site using specialized grinding equipment.
The Equipment: Grinding Attachment and Skid-Steer Loader
At U.S. Waste Industries, we maintain an extensive inventory of heavy equipment, including a grinding attachment for a skid-steer loader. In the past, we’ve used this grinder to break down and crush all kinds of materials—reducing particle size to make them more compact and manageable.
The same logic applied here: if we could crush the solid blocks of salt and reduce the particle size, we could return the material to its original free-flowing state.
The Process: Grinding and Reclamation
The process turned out to be very effective:
- Equipment setup – We attached the grinding equipment to our skid-steer loader
- Feeding the grinder – Solid masses of rock salt were fed into the grinder
- Particle size reduction – The grinder broke down the solid blocks into coarsely grained salt
- Material collection – The reclaimed salt was collected in a large hopper, ready for immediate use
We worked for two days straight to transform the unyielding, unusable brick into a large hopper of free-flowing road salt—ready to use at the first sign of an impending storm.
Project Results: Cost Savings and Zero Waste
Our novel approach delivered multiple benefits:
- 200 tons – Total road salt reclaimed
- 2 days – Total project duration
- 100% recovery – All material returned to usable condition
- Zero landfill waste – Perfectly good material kept out of disposal facilities
- Significant cost savings – Client avoided purchasing 200 tons of replacement salt (thousands of dollars)
- Immediate reuse – Salt was ready for the upcoming winter season
- Environmental benefit – Prevented unnecessary disposal and extraction of new materials
Why Innovation Matters in Waste Management
This project exemplifies a core principle at U.S. Waste Industries: not all waste needs to be disposed of. Sometimes, the best solution is recovery, reclamation, or reuse.
Most waste contractors would have simply loaded the solidified salt into trucks and hauled it to a landfill—collecting disposal fees without considering alternatives. But that approach:
- Costs the client more money (disposal + replacement)
- Wastes valuable materials
- Adds unnecessary environmental burden
- Misses opportunities for creative problem-solving
Our team looked at the situation differently. We asked: “Can this material be saved?” The answer was yes—and the solution was simpler than expected.
Applications for Material Reclamation Technology
The grinding and reclamation methods used in this salt recovery project can be applied to many other materials and situations, including:
- Solidified bulk materials – Fertilizers, aggregates, minerals, and industrial powders that have hardened or clumped
- Construction debris – Crushing concrete, brick, and asphalt for reuse as aggregate or fill material
- Industrial byproducts – Breaking down oversized or compacted waste for easier handling or recycling
- Agricultural products – Reclaiming feed, seed, or soil amendments that have solidified in storage
If you have materials that seem “unusable” or destined for disposal, it’s worth exploring whether reclamation or recovery is possible. The cost savings and environmental benefits can be substantial.
Industries and Clients We Serve
U.S. Waste Industries provides material reclamation, recycling, and waste management services for clients across multiple industries, including:
- Municipal public works departments
- State and county highway maintenance divisions
- Private road maintenance contractors
- Construction and demolition companies
- Manufacturing facilities
- Agricultural operations
- Industrial facilities with bulk material storage
Services Demonstrated in This Project
This salt reclamation project showcased several U.S. Waste Industries capabilities:
- Industrial recycling and material recovery – On-site reclamation and reuse
- Non-hazardous waste management – Alternative disposal solutions
- Heavy equipment expertise – Grinding, crushing, and material handling
- Innovative problem-solving – Cost-saving alternatives to standard disposal
Why Choose U.S. Waste Industries for Material Reclamation
Not every waste management provider thinks beyond hauling and disposal. Here’s what sets U.S. Waste Industries apart:
- Innovative thinking – We explore recovery and reuse options before defaulting to disposal
- Specialized equipment – Grinders, crushers, loaders, and processing tools for on-site material handling
- Cost-focused solutions – Our goal is to save clients money while managing materials responsibly
- Environmental responsibility – Keeping usable materials out of landfills benefits everyone
- Experienced problem-solvers – Decades of experience in recycling, reuse, and reclamation projects
More Innovative Project Examples
Explore additional examples of our creative waste management solutions:
- Ohio Lagoon Cleanup – Polymer solidification extended cleaning cycle from 5 to 15 years
- Virginia Lagoon Removal – Completed in 7 days what another contractor couldn’t finish in a year
- Industrial Recycling Services – Overview of our waste minimization and recovery programs
Get Help with Material Reclamation or Waste Recovery
If you have materials that seem unusable, solidified, or destined for disposal, contact U.S. Waste Industries before hauling them to a landfill. We’ll evaluate whether reclamation, grinding, or reuse is possible—potentially saving you thousands in disposal and replacement costs.
Call 800-669-9552 or contact us today to discuss your material recovery needs. We’ll provide a free assessment and explore cost-saving alternatives to standard disposal.
U.S. Waste Industries: Compliance you can trust. Experts you can reach.