Beyond Disposal: The Industrial Advantage of Solvent Recycling

By shifting the mindset from disposal to resource optimization, companies can reinvest in their business through solvent recycling. Adopting solvent recycling into workflows can help improve sustainability, reduce costs, and help manufacturers better manage their solvent usage. But which solvents can be recycled? The list is extensive, but exploring some of the most commonly used solvents that can be recovered can help to explain why solvent recycling is smart solution for industrial manufacturers. 

Common Solvents That Can Be Recycled 

Many widely used solvents can be effectively recycled, reducing waste while keeping day-to-day activities running smoothly. A few of some of the most used solvents that manufacturers can recover for reuse include: 

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 

• Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a powerful solvent used in paints, coatings, adhesives, and inks due to its fast evaporation rate and strong dissolving properties. Instead of discarding spent MEK, recycling it can lower costs significantly while reducing the need for hazardous waste disposal. 

Acetone 

• A versatile solvent found in plastics manufacturing, and industrial cleaning applications, acetone is highly recyclable.

Isopropyl Alcohol 

• Widely used in electronics, Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) plays a crucial role in cleaning and disinfection. Recycling IPA helps maintain consistent supply levels, stabilizes costs, and prevents unnecessary waste. 

Toluene and Varsol 

• These solvents are commonly used in adhesives, coatings and degreasing applications. By adding solvent recycling to their operations, manufacturers can capture and reuse these solvents, reducing reliance on fresh solvent purchases at an additional cost. 

Review our comprehensive list of most commonly recycled solvents to see if solvent recycling is a solution for your business.

The Cost of Disposal vs. The Value of Recovery 

Most companies think of solvent disposal as an unavoidable operating expense and overlook the financial and environmental advantages of solvent recycling. Traditional disposal methods present a number of challenges that can be addressed by the benefits of solvent recycling. 

Traditional Disposal Challenges: 

• High costs for purchasing new solvents regularly 

•  Strict regulations on hazardous waste handling and disposal 

•  Environmental concerns linked to emissions and landfill waste 

The Benefits of Solvent Recycling: 

• Reduces solvent purchasing costs by up to 95% 

• Cuts hazardous waste disposal fees 

•  Helps companies meet environmental goals and comply with environmental regulations 

•  Ensures a stable, onsite solvent supply, reducing reliance on volatile markets 

By recovering and reusing solvents, manufacturers reduce waste while improving efficiency, making recycling a strategic decision not just an environmental one. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits in more detail. 

Operational and Compliance Benefits  

• Lower Hazardous Waste Risks: Recycling solvents reduces the amount of hazardous waste generated, as a result this lowers compliance risks and potential penalties for improper disposal. 
• Improved Workplace Safety: By recycling solvents onsite, companies can better control handling procedures, leading to safer working conditions. 
• Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility: Many industries face pressure to adopt greener manufacturing practices. Solvent recycling supports corporate sustainability initiatives by reducing resource consumption and emissions. 
  
  

How Solvent Recycling Enhances Operational Efficiency 

Manufacturers that adopt solvent recycling gain more than just cost savings—they improve overall efficiency: 

• Less Dependency on External Suppliers: Reducing reliance on outside solvent purchases helps shield companies from supply chain disruptions and fluctuating prices. 

• Streamlined Waste Management: Recycling eliminates the need for excessive hazardous waste storage, simplifying compliance and reducing regulatory headaches. 

• Optimized Production Processes: Reclaimed solvents maintain high purity levels, ensuring they can be reused without compromising product quality. 
  
  

Finding the Right Solvent Recycling System for Your Industry 

Not all solvent recycling systems are the same. The best solution depends on your industry, solvent usage and production scale. CBG Biotech specializes in industry-specific solvent recycling solutions.  

Our SolvTrue™ line of solvent recyclers is built for industrial manufacturing, offering high-capacity solvent recovery to support large-scale production needs. These systems are designed to handle high solvent volumes efficiently, helping manufacturers reduce waste, cut costs, and maintain compliance with environmental regulations. 

For laboratory settings, our PathTrue™ solvent recyclers provide precise and reliable solvent recovery tailored to healthcare, pharmaceutical, and research applications. These systems help labs minimize solvent waste while maintaining the purity and integrity of recovered solvents, ensuring they can be safely reused in sensitive processesLink 

A Smarter Approach to Solvent Use 

The way manufacturers handle solvents directly impacts their bottom line, sustainability goals, and workflow efficiency. Instead of treating used solvents as waste, companies can reclaim them as valuable resources, reducing costs and minimizing environmental impact. Manufacturers who embrace solvent recycling future-proof their operations, decrease their environmental footprint, and gain a competitive advantage in their industry. 

Want to explore how solvent recycling can benefit your business? Let’s talk. 

Contact Mary Sullivan at msullivan@cbgbiotech.com or call 440-786-7667 ext. 214 to find the right solvent recovery solution for your facility, or visit our Contact Us page to get connected with your regional representative.