Redevelopment Economics at Hazardous Waste Cleanup Facilities

On this page:

• Overview
• Economic Profiles
• Economic Methodology
• Related Studies

Overview

Facilities cleaned up under the Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program contribute numerous benefits to their communities. Cleanups performed under the Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program can set the stage for continued use or a wide range of new developments – vibrant neighborhoods, shopping centers, office buildings, hotels, restaurants, or other uses. Hazardous waste cleanups also allow on-site businesses to continue operating while protecting human health and the environment. Cleanup facilitates continued operation of on-site manufacturers, chemical plants, waste handlers and other vital industrial and commercial uses.

In 2020, EPA began collecting economic information for Hazardous Waste Cleanup facilities in new and continued use. In 2024, EPA collected economic data for a total of 168 Hazardous Waste Cleanup facilities where cleanups have been partially or fully completed. Those facilities represent only a small percentage of all Hazardous Waste Cleanup facilities that support economic activity. Together, those 168 facilities supported 1,640 businesses that employed over 176,000 people and generated an estimated $19.3 billion in annual employment income. The annual sales revenue generated by these businesses exceeded $76 billion.

You can find a breakdown of these benefits by year studied in the table below.

Some benefits associated with facility cleanup and reuse are easy to quantify. For example, commercial or industrial reuse of facilities can bolster local economies by supporting jobs and generating sales revenue. However, not all facilities in reuse involve an on-site business or other land use that employs people. Many facilities have beneficial effects that are not easily quantified, such as properties providing ecological or recreational benefits (e.g., parks, wetlands, ecological habitat, open space). In addition, facilities can support continued and new residential use for which the associated economic benefits may not be fully captured by site business data alone. Economic information is not available for all facilities in reuse.

Map of Facilities

Below you can find a map of the locations of the facilities included in the 2024 Redevelopment Economics study. Click on a pin to find information about the facility, a summary of the facility’s 2024 economic data, and a link to the facility profile (if one exists).

Economic Profiles

EPA developed a series of facility profiles to describe the reuses and continued uses happening across the country at facilities cleaned up under the Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program. These two-page profiles highlight the facilities’ economic vitality and other positive impacts for their communities.

Economic Methodology

EPA obtains economic data for facilities in reuse or continued use from reputable sources. Information on the number of employees and sales volume for on-site businesses typically comes from the Hoovers/Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) database. When Hoovers/D&B database research is not able to identify employment and sales information for on-site businesses, EPA uses the Reference Solutions and Manta databases. These databases include data reported by businesses. Accordingly, some reported values might be underestimates or overestimates. In some instances, business and employment information come from publications such as company annual reports, business websites, and news media reports. Employee income is estimated using average wages from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the specific industries at each site. In cases where there is uncertainty, EPA presents lower-end estimates to avoid overstating economic impacts. While some facilities may cover large areas, if they support primarily residential use, or other uses that do not employ people or generate sales revenue, the site-related economic totals may appear lower than expected.

For more information about economic research methodology, read through the 2024 Summary of the Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program’s Economic Benefits Study and Research Methodology (pdf) (1.1 MB) .

Related Studies

The economic benefits from hazardous waste cleanups go beyond those associated with on-site businesses. According to recent research, EPA’s Hazardous Waste Cleanup Program contributed to a $323 million increase in the value of homes near the 195 completed cleanups studied. By identifying and completing the cleanup of contamination, homeowners near the cleanups experience an average of a six to seven percent increase in the value of their homes. Another recent study notes that housing price increases are largest for lower-cost homes.

Other studies below:

• Hazardous Waste and Home Values: An Analysis of Treatment and Disposal Sites in the U.S.
• Impacts of Hazardous Waste Cleanups on Housing Prices and Neighborhood Change.