Maximizing performance. Minimizing waste.
At GMA, we focus on enhancing operational efficiency while minimizing abrasive waste and the environmental impact of blasting.

Cost-effective waste management solutions
Using GMA Garnet™ reduces waste disposal costs and maintenance expenses. Our durable abrasives and solutions for garnet disposal and recycling support a more sustainable and cost-effective operation. Partnering with GMA means choosing a safer and environmentally responsible approach to waste management.
Find out more about recycling spent garnet through the Garnet Return program.

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The advantages of using GMA Garnet™
Cleaner operations
High-performance GMA Garnet™ abrasives deliver the cleanest surface of any abrasive, enhancing corrosion protection and reducing maintenance.
Lower hazard potential
While traditional slags can result in hazardous waste, our abrasives containing non-toxic garnet have a much lower potential for being hazardous.
More economical
GMA minimizes abrasive consumption and disposal costs by offering an environmentally responsible, cost-effective approach to waste management.
Reprocessing and recycling: Closing the loop
GMA is committed to sustainability through innovative recycling programs that simplify waste management for our customers. Unlike slags, which often end up in costly hazardous waste landfills, our garnet abrasives deliver the cleanest surface preparation of any mineral or slag abrasive, contributing to a circular economy and making waste management easier, which ultimately saves money from the bottom line.

Shipyard saves on disposal costs with transition to GMA
A New York Harbor shipyard previously used slag abrasives for blasting maintenance and contended with high operational costs and poor productivity. By switching to GMA ToughBlast™, the shipyard achieved substantial savings across the operation, eliminating disposal costs and reducing abrasive consumption by 70%.

Frequently asked questions
Find answers to FAQs about the Garnet Return program. For more information on how it works, visit the FAQs library.
How does the GMA Garnet Return Program work?
Customers send used garnet from waterjet cutting or abrasive blasting operations to one of our collection points, and we reprocess the material in one of our state-of-the-art processing plants. Before used garnet can be returned, we must ensure it is environmentally safe to transport and process.
- To ensure all loads of garnet are non-hazardous, a 100-gram sample of used garnet must be tested with a Third-Party Environmental Laboratory for Resource Conservation and Recovery ACT (RCRA 8 Metals) via Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) analysis (RCRA 8 TCLP).
- Next, a sample is submitted to the appropriate GMA laboratory for a Sieve Analysis to determine if the garnet is viable for reprocessing.
- If suitable and safe, GMA will issue a return authorization upon completing a simple Garnet Profile Form.
What does GMA do with the spent garnet?
What is the cost?
The cost will include the TCLP analysis, transportation of the material to the GMA facility, and, in special cases, GMA handling fees. These costs differ depending on transportation distance, lab fees, and other variables.
Typically, costs are lower if your facility is closer to a collection point. Our beneficial use collection points are located in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania; Cincinnati, Ohio; Coos Bay, Oregon; and Houston, Texas.
Do you repurchase the garnet from us?
Speak to your local GMA Garnet™ expert
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Donec eget maximus sem. Suspendisse eget felis dolor. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nam egestas justo vitae tempus interdum. Etiam blandit et lectus non malesuada.
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