Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1212564
4 SURVEY OF WASTE DISPOSAL OPTIONS & THEIR IMPACT ON THE PORTABLE SANITATION INDUSTRY © Copyright 2020 by the PSAI. All rights reserved. Septic tank and related services as a primary business line Portable toilet rental as the primary business line (estimated in 2015 and 2020) 7,363 8,674 8,824 8,938 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 2002 2012 2015 2020 2,201 2,284 2,234 2,314 4,418 5,330 5,482 5,657 744 1,060 1,108 1,122 Companies engaged in septic/portable toilet rentals as a tertiary service Total—all companies engaged in septic/portable toilets Septic tank and related services as a primary business line Portable toilet rental as the primary business line (estimated in 2015 and 2020) 7,363 8,674 8,824 8,938 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 7,000 8,000 9,000 0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000 6,000 2002 2012 2015 2020 2,201 2,284 2,234 2,314 4,418 5,330 5,482 5,657 744 1,060 1,108 1,122 Companies engaged in septic/portable toilet rentals as a tertiary service Total—all companies engaged in septic/portable toilets Fundamental in the provision of portable sanitation is the collection and disposal of liquid waste. For the past several years, portable sanitation operators in various locations have reported increasing difficulties with accessing facilities for waste disposal, and they have also observed the cost of waste disposal rising. The Portable Sanitation Association International (the PSAI) is a nonprofit trade association representing the industry. Since 2014 the organization has annually sought feedback from industry members regarding the challenges faced by their businesses. As the result of increasing feedback regarding waste disposal, the organization undertook a more comprehensive survey to better document the scope of the issues faced by industry members. Data were gathered between June and August 2019. Classification of Waste The waste collected and hauled by portable sanitation companies consists mainly of human urine and feces, toilet tissue, grey water, and black water. It is considered "domestic septage" by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Domestic septage is defined as: […] either liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank, cesspool, portable toilet, Type III marine sanitation device, or similar treatment works that receives only domestic sewage. Domestic septage does not include liquid or solid material removed from a septic tank, cesspool, or similar treatment works that receives either commercial wastewater or industrial wastewater and does not include grease removed from a grease trap at a restaurant. 3 EPA's inclusion of portable sanitation waste within the category of domestic septage makes it distinct from the following related categories of waste. 4 • Domestic sewage, which contains waste and wastewater from humans or household operations that is discharged to or otherwise enters a treatment works. • Industrial wastewater, which is wastewater generated in a commercial or industrial process. Estimated Industry Size by Number of Business Establishments Figure 2