Industrial decommissioning is the process of safely shutting down, dismantling, and removing an industrial facility, including demolition, utility isolation, environmental cleanup, and asset recovery.

Facilities such as factories, power plants, paper mills, refineries, chemical plants, utility sites, and long-running industrial operations often require full or partial decommissioning.

Common hazards include asbestos, lead, PCBs, mercury, contaminated soil, tanks, residual chemicals, and hazardous building materials. These must be identified and removed under strict regulations.

Equipment is evaluated for reuse, resale, or recycling. Scrap metals including steel, copper, and aluminum are recovered, sorted, and properly documented.

We perform utility mapping, verification, and isolation, followed by lockout/tagout procedures to ensure electrical, steam, gas, water, and process systems are safely disconnected.

Timelines vary based on facility size, system complexity, environmental conditions, and cleanup requirements. Most projects range from several months to a full year.

Yes. We coordinate environmental testing, track waste streams, and provide complete documentation for regulatory agencies and owner records.

Yes. Melching provides concrete removal, crushing, grading, backfilling, and site preparation to deliver a clean, developable site ready for construction.

Yes. Decommissioning includes demolition but also requires system shutdowns, utility isolation, environmental remediation, and asset recovery — areas many demolition contractors do not handle in-house.

Helpful materials include site history, environmental reports, utility maps, equipment inventories, and project goals. A site walk confirms the conditions and scope.

Read our in-depth guide: Inside Industrial Decommissioning: The Hidden Risks and How to Manage Them — and learn how proper planning prevents delays, environmental issues, and costly shutdown mistakes.