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Operational Excellence Powers Industrial Turnaround Services
See how our total waste solutions scaled services to meet heavy industrial needs for a major national refinery in Texas.Byline: BTB Author
October 1, 2025 / Time to read: 5 minRepublic Services transformed waste management for a major national refinery in Texas by introducing robust PO tracking, consolidating multiple vendors into one Total Waste Solutions partner and scaling services to meet heavy industrial needs. This operational foundation positioned Republic to secure the refinery’s high-profile “Big Block Turnaround” project, expanding our footprint into maintenance and remediation services.
The Challenge
For years, the refinery struggled with the complexity of managing waste streams across multiple vendors. Non-hazardous waste, hazardous waste and recycling were contracted separately, creating inefficiencies and leaving facility managers without a clear picture of total spend. Purchase orders were scattered, tracking was inconsistent, and the administrative burden of reconciling hundreds of invoices created frustration across departments.
These challenges had real impacts:
- Service reliability varied between vendors, leading to operational disruptions.
- Lack of centralized reporting increased compliance risks.
- Facility managers had limited visibility into spend and tonnage across sites.
The refinery needed a partner who could simplify processes, integrate waste services under one roof and deliver dependable onsite support.
The Solution
Republic Services introduced a comprehensive Total Waste Solutions (TWS) program designed to relieve the administrative burden and ensure reliable execution.
Key steps included:
- PO Tracking System
A robust tracking tool, updated weekly, delivered transparency to all contract holders and PO owners. This ensured alignment across more than 300 purchase orders annually. - Consolidation of Services
Hazardous and non-hazardous waste contracts were merged into a single, streamlined agreement. This not only simplified management but ensured consistency across recycling, waste and specialty services. - Onsite Support
Republic Services deployed a dedicated onsite team including an in person Account Manager, four to five daily drivers, account representatives, technicians and an onsite billing/operations manager. Together, they managed inspections, scheduling and compliance reporting across the refinery’s facilities. - Scalability for Major Projects
With this foundation in place, Republic Services was positioned to be awarded the refinery’s Big Block Turnaround — a large-scale maintenance and remediation initiative requiring tank cleanouts, sump cleanouts, valve and fitting replacements, cooling tower work and more.
The Outcome
Republic Services integrated approach provided a solution that is grounded in measurable results. At this refinery, we safely manage over 16,600 tons of material annually, across multiple streams and facilities.
Recycling:
- 280 tons of cardboard, paper, plastic, electronics and HSM
Waste Streams:
- 2,200 tons of plant trash
- 10,199 tons of biosolids
- 650 tons of sandblast material
- 586 tons of catalyst (non-hazardous)
- 1,400 tons of weathered wood
- 1,353 tons of Class 1 oily trash
- 1,068 tons of mixed Class 1 materials
Transportation:
- Republic Services managed all non-hazardous and hazardous transport.
Facilities and Disposal Methods:
- McCarty Facility – Class 2 non-hazardous landfill (direct disposal and solidification)
- Blue Ridge Facility – Class 1 disposal site (non-hazardous)
- Robstown Facility – Hazardous waste treatment and disposal, including thermal treatment of HSM catalysts
- Field & Industrial Services – high-volume cleanouts with vacuum trucks and roll-offs
- Emergency Response – for unplanned needs
- E&P Services – supporting upstream operations
This illustrates Republic Services’ geographic coverage and operational command across Texas, ensuring reliable, compliant disposal at the right facilities for each material stream.
Keys to Success
- Simplified management through consolidated haz and non-haz contracts
- Over 16,600 tons of waste and recycling managed annually
- Comprehensive PO tracking across 300+ purchase orders
- Dedicated onsite personnel, from drivers to account reps to compliance managers
- Proven ability to expand into heavy industrial services with the Big Block Turnaround
- Geographic reach across Texas with multiple disposal facilities
- Reduced administrative burden and improved compliance visibility for the customer
The Bottom Line
By addressing inefficiencies, consolidating services and introducing robust PO tracking, Republic Services transformed waste management for this national refinery. The partnership demonstrates how Republic Services not only manages day-to-day waste reliably but also builds the trust and operational excellence needed to secure large-scale industrial projects.
This exemplifies Republic Services’ ability to build successful relationships through comprehensive capabilities. With a presence across recycling, hazardous waste, non-hazardous disposal, transportation and industrial turnaround services, Republic Services has become the refinery’s trusted partner for long-term success.
