NAICS 562211 Quarterly Industry Report
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 562211Sector: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (NAICS 562211) draws on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], U.S. Census Bureau, and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, environmental services analysts, and business brokers with current market data. The editorial analysis reflects the independent assessment of FairMarketValue.com's research team, with all quantitative claims sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the hazardous waste treatment and disposal industry.
Share of Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
0.2%
By establishment count, 2022 Census[2]
NAICS Sector
56
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
Industry Definition & Overview
Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (NAICS 562211) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in operating treatment and disposal facilities for hazardous waste, or combining hazardous waste collection with treatment and disposal operations per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Treatment methods include chemical neutralization, thermal incineration, biological degradation, stabilization and solidification, and physical separation of hazardous constituents. All operations are governed by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and associated EPA regulations.
About 397 businesses operate 961 establishments nationally, employing roughly 32,840 workers and generating approximately $2.55 billion in annual payroll per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6]. Market structure is concentrated; Clean Harbors, Enviri Group, and US Ecology (now part of Republic Services) control a large share of permitted treatment capacity. Barriers to entry are extremely high; RCRA Part B permits require years of regulatory review, and facility construction costs reach tens of millions of dollars. Financial assurance requirements for closure and post-closure care add to capital demands.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is $47.0 million in average annual receipts. Revenue comes from treatment fees charged per pound, drum, or truckload based on waste characterization and treatment method required. Chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, metalworking, electronics production, and pharmaceutical manufacturing generate the bulk of hazardous waste requiring professional treatment and disposal. Land Disposal Restrictions mandate that most hazardous wastes must meet specific treatment standards before placement in permitted disposal cells.
What's Included in This Industry
- Hazardous waste incineration and thermal treatment
- Chemical neutralization and stabilization
- Hazardous waste landfill disposal operations
- Biological treatment of hazardous materials
- Physical separation and concentration processes
- Waste characterization and laboratory analysis
- Combined hazardous waste collection and treatment
- RCRA-permitted storage and consolidation
- Contaminated soil treatment and remediation
- Wastewater treatment for hazardous constituents
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 56 |
| Subsector | Waste Management and Remediation Services | 562 |
| Industry Group | Waste Treatment and Disposal | 5622 |
| NAICS Industry | Waste Treatment and Disposal | 56221 |
| National Industry | Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal | 562211 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 562112 | Hazardous Waste Collection | Hazardous Waste Collection gathers hazardous materials from generators and transports them to treatment facilities, representing the upstream collection phase before treatment and disposal processing |
| 562212 | Solid Waste Landfill | Solid Waste Landfills dispose of nonhazardous materials through burial, while hazardous waste treatment applies specialized chemical, thermal, or biological methods to destroy or neutralize dangerous substances |
| 562213 | Solid Waste Combustors and Incinerators | Solid Waste Combustors burn nonhazardous waste for volume reduction and energy recovery, while hazardous waste treatment incinerates toxic materials at higher temperatures with stricter emission controls |
| 562910 | Remediation Services | Remediation Services clean contaminated sites and groundwater, generating hazardous waste streams that require treatment and disposal at permitted RCRA facilities |
| 541380 | Testing Laboratories and Services | Testing Laboratories analyze waste samples to determine hazardous characteristics and treatment requirements, providing analytical data that treatment facilities need for processing decisions |
| 562219 | Other Nonhazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal | Other Nonhazardous Waste Treatment handles non-toxic materials through composting and biological processes, while hazardous treatment requires RCRA-permitted facilities with containment systems |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 10.8% | 100 |
| 2 | California | 10.6% | 98 |
| 3 | Ohio | 4.7% | 43 |
| 4 | Florida | 4.5% | 41 |
| 5 | Tennessee | 4.2% | 39 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 3.9% | 36 |
| 7 | Michigan | 3.1% | 29 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 3.0% | 28 |
| 9 | Illinois | 2.8% | 26 |
| 10 | New York | 2.8% | 26 |
% Of Establishments
0%
11%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
80
Total SBA Loans
$19.3M
Total Loan Volume
$242K
Average Loan Size
9 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.32%
Average Interest Rate
1,104
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (NAICS 562211) has a size standard of $47.0 million in average annual receipts for federal contracting purposes. SBA 7(a) loans[8] support treatment equipment, facility construction, and working capital for qualifying firms. Financial assurance requirements for RCRA closure and post-closure care create additional capital needs beyond standard operating expenses. Additionally, 504/CDC loans[9] provide long-term, fixed-rate financing for major fixed assets such as real estate and equipment.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company, National Association | 24 | $4.4M | $183K |
| 2 | JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 8 | $4.4M | $545K |
| 3 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 8 | $4.0M | $500K |
| 4 | CDC Small Business Finance Corp. | 8 | $2.8M | $350K |
| 5 | Readycap Lending, LLC | 8 | $1.6M | $200K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses operate hazardous waste treatment facilities?
Major operators include Clean Harbors, Enviri Group, and Republic Services Environmental Solutions. About 397 businesses operate 961 establishments employing roughly 32,840 workers per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Market concentration is high due to extreme barriers to entry from permitting and capital requirements.
How are hazardous waste treatment facilities regulated?
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) governs all hazardous waste treatment operations through EPA oversight per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6]. RCRA Part B permits establish operating parameters, monitoring requirements, financial assurance, and closure procedures for each facility.
What is the SBA size standard for Hazardous Waste Treatment?
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], NAICS 562211 has a size standard of $47.0 million in average annual receipts. This determines eligibility for SBA loans, federal contracting set-asides, and small business programs.
What NAICS codes are related to hazardous waste treatment?
Related codes include NAICS 562112 (Hazardous Collection), NAICS 562212 (Landfills), NAICS 562213 (Combustors), NAICS 562910 (Remediation), and NAICS 541380 (Testing Labs) per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Each handles a different phase of hazardous waste management.
Which industries generate the most hazardous waste?
Chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, metalworking, electronics production, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and energy production generate the largest hazardous waste volumes requiring professional treatment and disposal services.
What activities are included in NAICS 562211?
Core activities include incineration, chemical neutralization, stabilization, biological treatment, physical separation, waste characterization, RCRA-permitted storage, contaminated soil treatment, and wastewater processing per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
Can hazardous waste treatment businesses get SBA loans?
Yes, firms meeting the $47.0 million size standard qualify for SBA 7(a) loans[8] covering treatment equipment, facility development, and working capital. Environmental due diligence and financial assurance requirements add complexity to SBA loan applications in this sector.
What treatment methods are most common?
Thermal incineration, chemical neutralization and stabilization, biological degradation, and physical separation represent the primary treatment technologies per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6]. Method selection depends on waste composition, regulatory requirements, and Land Disposal Restriction standards.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504/CDC loans sba.gov
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