VLS Environmental Solutions has published a new piece, “Elemental Mercury Disposal Is No Longer in Limbo,” detailing the launch of a fully compliant, permanent disposal solution for elemental mercury at its VLS Texas Molecular facility in Deer Park, Texas. The patent pending solution allows government agencies and private industry to stop stockpiling this hazardous metal on site and dispose of RCRA hazardous (D009) waste legally and compliantly within the United States.
- What: A first-of-its-kind, permanently sequestering solution for elemental mercury, developed to close a gap left open since the Mercury Export Ban Act (MEBA) took effect. The method removes mercury from the biosphere for good, using proven technology at the nation’s largest hazardous waste disposal facility by volume.
- Who: VLS Environmental Solutions, drawing on 40 plus years of safe operations at its Texas Molecular Deer Park facility, in close coordination with the EPA, TCEQ, the Department of Energy and other federal partners.
- Why It Matters: For more than a decade, generators – including gold miners, utilities, laboratories, universities and the U.S. government – have had no permanent option and were forced to store mercury on site while Congress stalled on a long-term solution. This launch removes that risk, easing compliance concerns and taking a dangerous material out of the environment for good.
Key Figures from the Analysis:
- More than 67 million gallons of mercury-coded waste safely disposed at the Deer Park facility since 2021.
- 225,000 gallons of annual capacity to permanently and compliantly dispose of elemental mercury.
- A TCEQ compliance score of 0.0 – the best possible rating obtainable.
- 40 plus years of operation with zero accidents affecting public health or the environment.
- 20 years without a lost-time incident.
Published September 2026
