Case Study: Rockwood Lithium achieves safe, compliant disposal of highly reactive lithium and lab wastes with Veolia North America

Veolia Professionally Handles Even the Most Difficult Waste Streams

Rockwood Lithium, the global market leader in lithium compounds and a major producer of lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide and specialty metal compounds, faced highly unusual and hazardous waste streams — including organo‑metallic and reactive lithium metal wastes that are water‑reactive and pyrophoric. Many vendors were unwilling or unable to handle these materials safely; Rockwood turned to Veolia North America to manage lab packs, organic and inorganic lab wastes, organo‑metallic lithium dispersion wastes and other reactive metal wastes after competitors had caused delays, multiple site visits and cost overruns.

Veolia North America conducted an extensive waste‑stream review and technical exchange, engineered compatible packaging and performed pre‑shipment field inspections, including a visit to its Sauget, IL incineration facility. Using dedicated field reps and one‑day lab‑pack service, Veolia North America delivered compliant, timely disposal — avoiding repeated visits and potential cost overruns experienced with competitors, ensuring safe incineration of reactive materials, and providing the regulatory documentation and responsiveness Rockwood required.

Rockwood Lithium