New Environmental Consultancy Set to Tackle Compliance Risks and Industrial Waste Challenges Across the U.S.

Businesses across the United States are contending with an increasingly complex environmental landscape where compliance failures can be costly, both financially and reputationally. In 2023, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued more than $1 billion in penalties for violations of environmental laws, a stark reminder that regulatory obligations are no longer a peripheral concern but a central business risk. For many organizations, particularly smaller enterprises without dedicated environmental teams, keeping pace with shifting requirements can be a daunting challenge.

Compounding the problem is the scale of waste production in the country. American industries produce staggering volumes of waste each year, from manufacturing’s billions of tons of byproducts to the healthcare sector’s millions of tons of waste, a significant portion of which is classified as hazardous. Improper handling of these materials can lead to soil and water contamination, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and trigger legal and operational setbacks. Even organizations with strong environmental intentions often struggle to translate them into consistent, measurable results.

Into this space will be Sustainatech Consulting LLC, a soon-to-launch environmental engineering consultancy based in Richmond, Kentucky. The company will work with clients to design and implement waste management systems, ensure compliance with environmental laws at all levels, and create the internal capacity to sustain improvements over time. By tailoring its work to the operational realities of each client, Sustainatech Consulting will aim to help organizations reduce environmental risks while improving efficiency.

The company’s founder, Bianca Caldeira, brings a career of practical and strategic experience to this endeavor. She has directed corporate sustainability programs across Latin America, managing everything from ESG reporting to climate action planning. Her portfolio includes overseeing large-scale waste diversion projects, developing corporate environmental training platforms, and coordinating compliance responses to evolving regulations. She says her motivation is rooted in making environmental responsibility accessible to businesses of all sizes. “When environmental compliance becomes part of everyday business logic, companies do not just avoid penalties, they gain stability, trust, and room to innovate,” she explains.

One of the areas where Sustainatech Consulting expects to make a difference is in helping organizations navigate the permitting process for infrastructure and energy projects. Delays in environmental review can stall construction timelines and drive up costs. By offering targeted assessments, regulatory readiness plans, and engineering strategies that anticipate compliance challenges, the company will aim to reduce bottlenecks that slow project delivery. This focus could be particularly significant for sectors under federal scrutiny to meet sustainability commitments, including those tied to climate adaptation and energy transition initiatives.

The company’s work will also intersect with broader workforce challenges in the environmental sector. The United States faces a projected shortage of qualified environmental engineers and waste specialists, a problem fueled by an aging workforce and rising demand for specialized skills. Sustainatech Consulting plans to address this by investing in professional development internally and by providing its clients with structured training programs. These sessions will not only cover compliance requirements but also instill a deeper understanding of sustainable operations, enabling businesses to operate more independently in the long term.

From a national perspective, the benefits of this approach could be far-reaching. More efficient waste systems will mean fewer materials sent to landfills, contributing to reduced methane emissions, a gas with more than 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period. Streamlined compliance processes could help keep critical infrastructure projects on track, while improved internal management practices could lessen the reliance on an already strained pool of environmental professionals.

While Sustainatech Consulting will begin its work in Kentucky, its goals are aligned with nationwide trends in sustainability and regulation. As industries face mounting pressure from regulators, investors, and the public, the ability to meet environmental obligations while maintaining operational efficiency will be a defining factor in long-term success. With a blend of technical skill, regulatory insight, and a commitment to education, the company intends to position itself as a resource for businesses determined to meet that standard.