VLS Environmental Solutions has unveiled a patent-pending technology for the permanent disposal of elemental mercury. This technology is the first and only RCRA-compliant disposal option for elemental mercury in the United States. This innovative solution represents a significant milestone in hazardous waste management and a pivotal shift in how mercury waste should be managed.
Treatment and disposal of elemental mercury will occur at VLS’ Texas Molecular RCRA permitted Treatment, Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) in Deer Park, Texas. The facility has the capacity and existing infrastructure to safely treat and dispose of elemental mercury in accordance with regulations and existing permits. VLS Texas Molecular is fully permitted by both the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to accept and dispose of mercury at this facility. This process ensures safe and permanent disposal, providing a definitive, compliant solution for a previously unresolved environmental challenge.
“This is a watershed moment for mercury waste management,” said John Magee, chief executive officer of VLS Environmental Solutions. “Our process provides the first true domestic solution for mercury disposal since the Mercury Export Ban Act (MEBA) took effect in 2013. Government agencies and industry stakeholders now have a viable, compliant option for final disposal.”
Signed into law in 2008, MEBA prohibited the export of elemental mercury beginning in 2013, leaving industry and government entities without a regulatory-compliant disposal option. VLS Texas Molecular’s technical team has now resolved this predicament, eliminating the need for indefinite storage and reducing risks to public health and the environment.
“Methods like indefinite long term storage, or stabilization and landfill, just delay the problem and can pose potential serious risks,” said Chris Lobue, executive vice president of Hazardous Waste. “There is a reason stabilization and landfill of mercury above the water table isn’t allowed under current EPA regulations. The elegance of the VLS solution is that it fits within existing regulations and uses a proven technology that was originally designed to protect drinking water sources.”
Operating since 1981, the VLS Texas Molecular Deer Park facility is the only site in the nation equipped to deliver this level of mercury waste management. The company’s commitment to environmental leadership is reflected in its record for regulatory compliance and its approach to safety.
“The impact of this technology goes beyond regulatory compliance,” said Keith Cordesman, president of VLS. “It’s about protecting ecosystems, advancing sustainable development, and guiding industries toward a future built on responsible innovation.”
Published October 2025