In the state of Washington, 1.7 million pounds of cannabis waste accumulated during the first four years after legalization alone.1 And just a few months ago, a San Diego, CA-based cannabis production facility was indicted for illegally disposing of hazardous waste.2

Cannabis producers will have to manage their waste appropriately, especially the hazardous waste, which can’t just be sent to a landfill or composting facility. There are a number of strict controls in place for dealing with any kind of hazardous waste.

Because marijuana and CBD oil come from the cannabis plant, it’s often mistakenly assumed that leftover waste from processing is just like yard waste, but it isn’t. The improper disposal of waste materials from marijuana and CBD oil will likely lead to fines, liabilities or having your license rescinded.

There are two types of hazardous waste from cannabis – solid and liquid – and each must be dealt with according to the guidelines from the EPA and the state governments.

  • Solid waste disposal: The guideline for identifying solid waste is that it’s “unrecognizable and unusable.” This means no one should be able to look at a bag of waste and know immediately that it is cannabis. Many cannabis operations have a facility on site for grinding down the waste into smaller bits. If the waste is non-hazardous, it is mixed with other non-cannabis organics such as garden trimmings and then composted or sent to the appropriate landfill. If it’s hazardous, it’s mixed with cat litter, sand, plastic or sawdust and sent to the appropriate landfill.
  • Liquid waste disposal: Liquid waste is a bit more complicated. It must be disposed of properly or sent to a hazardous waste treatment facility. Cannabis operations must partner with a shipping company to dispose of the hazardous waste appropriately, unless they transport it themselves.

To manage the risks of improper disposal of cannabis waste, follow these three tips:

  1. Make sure you’re following all legal restrictions. Federal restrictions will guide you overall, but state and municipal restrictions are equally important and may vary.
  2. Use a reputable disposal company. Look for one that is familiar with handling hazardous waste in general and cannabis waste in particular.
  3. Follow guidelines for proper tracking, transportation and sign-offs. Completing all appropriate documentation ensures you have a paper trail to protect you in the event of an audit. Much of the documentation creates a written record so inspectors can confirm appropriate handling.

The proper disposal of hazardous materials can be expensive, but it’s worth it to demonstrate your organization’s credibility and financial wellbeing.

Contact a HUB cannabis industry specialist to make sure your organization is doing all it can to dispose of hazardous wastes safely and avoid the risks of dumping.

1 Washington’s Weed Industry Has a Million-Pound Waste Problem, July 26, 2017,
https://www.thestranger.com/weed/2017/07/26/25307388/washingtons-weed-industry-has-a-million-pound-waste-problem

2 Cannabis Company Accused of Illegally Dumping Hazardous Waste, July 3, 2019,
https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Cannabis-Company-Accused-of-Illegally-Dumping-Hazardous-Waste-512146401.html