美国环境保护署（EPA）提出的法规迫使汽车行业寻求替代油漆污泥填埋的方法。服务于汽车行业的公司开发了独特的工艺来管理油漆污泥，但EPA没有合作。最终的规定被放宽，油漆污泥继续被填埋。现在，服务业正在提供具有成本效益的替代品，包括将油漆污泥转化为固体燃料，用作煤炭替代品。 其主要特点是以较低的成本进行更有效的脱水。

PROPOSED REGULATIONS BY THE U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY (EPA) FORCED THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY TO SEEK ALTERNATIVES TO LANDFILLING OF PAINT SLUDGE. COMPANIES SERVING THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY DEVELOPED UNIQUE PROCESSES TO MANAGE PAINT SLUDGE, BUT THE EPA DID NOT COOPERATE. THE FINAL REGULATIONS WERE RELAXED AND PAINT SLUDGE CONTINUED TO BE LANDFILLED. NOW THE SERVICE INDUSTRY IS OFFERING COST-EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING CONVERTING THE PAINT SLUDGE TO A SOLID FUEL FOR USE AS A COAL SUBSTITUTE. THE KEY FEATURE IS MORE EFFECTIVE DEWATERING AT A LOW COST.