Client Spotlight: Blue Arrow
At Monarch Waste Co., partnerships with like-minded businesses drive progress toward a safer and more sustainable cannabis industry. Blue Arrow, a homegrown Missouri cannabis brand, reflects these values with its focus on quality, innovation, and responsible operations.
About Blue Arrow
Operating as a vertically integrated craft cannabis firm, Blue Arrow controls every stage of its product’s journey from seed to sale. This approach ensures consistent, high-quality, pharmaceutical-grade marijuana free from pesticides and pollutants.
Behind the brand is a management and advisory team blending expertise in law, business, finance, and the cannabis industry, giving Blue Arrow a well-rounded ability to navigate both business demands and regulatory requirements. The team is also dedicated to continuous research and development, keeping innovation at the forefront.
Their leadership demonstrates how proper off-gassing supports compliance, safety, and environmental stewardship, setting an example for the cannabis industry on responsible hazardous waste management from production to disposal.
The Blue Arrow Off-Gassing Process
Blue Arrow follows a detailed off-gassing process to safely prepare cannabis waste for disposal. Here are those steps.
After product extraction, Blue Arrow begins its off-gassing process by hanging a 100-micron sock containing the spent material to drain any excess solvents.
This is followed by nitrogen purging, where nitrogen is added to the column and left for 30 minutes before being drained. This non-combustible gas displaces oxygen and moisture without creating a hazardous environment, helping remove unwanted gases and impurities.
The bag hangs for another 24 hours to remove any remaining solvent and start the drying process.
The waste is then spread in a single layer on drying racks inside a C1D1 booth for an additional 24 hours, with staff periodically moving and turning the waste to maintain airflow and prevent buildup.
After drying, the material is transferred to Blue Arrow’s waste storage area until it is picked up by Monarch Waste Co.
Transporting hazardous waste must be done by a carrier with hazardous materials endorsements and state licenses. Being compliant requires more than just proper disposal; the waste must be packaged securely and labeled accurately.
The Importance of Properly Off-Gassing Materials
Properly off-gassing materials before disposal is essential for the following reasons.
Health and Safety
Manufacturing facilities, especially those performing extraction, have a regulatory obligation under oversight by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MO DNR) to manage hazardous waste properly. Biomass treated with combustible gases such as butane, propane, pentane, and hexane must be fully off-gassed before disposal.
Without off-gassing, concentrated residual gases can build up, creating the potential for spontaneous fires or explosions during storage, transport, or processing, especially if the material becomes condensed and heated. This poses a serious risk to staff, visitors, and vendors such as Monarch.
Blue Arrow’s established procedure maintains air quality, limiting respiratory issues, allergic reactions, and long-term health issues. Plus, by routinely monitoring extracted cannabis waste for flammable gases using LEL (Lower Explosive Limit) meters, they help prevent ignition risks.
Environmental and Sustainability Goals
In cultivation facilities, temperature, lighting, and humidity are the primary focus. Yet, improving air quality in manufacturing areas is sometimes overlooked.
With manufacturing and cultivation housed in the same building, Blue Arrow can efficiently address a variety of concerns. Their off-gassing procedure supports cleaner air by preventing the uncontrolled release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the environment. In turn, aligning operations with eco-friendly practices lowers the health risks of employees and surrounding communities.
A Note from Blue Arrow
“Monarch has been phenomenal to work with,” said Jonathan Brace, Senior Director of Compliance at Blue Arrow.
“Their team, including Zach, has worked with our staff to help review and improve our processes, ensuring the safety of everyone involved. Whenever DCR requests information or a change, they are always willing to help. They understand the challenges marijuana companies face in adapting to rapid changes in regulations and ensuring compliance.”
Compost Cannabis Waste With Monarch
Monarch Waste Co. is proud to be sustainable. With every new partnership between Monarch and other cannabis brands, the industry grows closer to a more sustainable future for businesses and the planet. To date, we’ve diverted over 328,000 pounds of waste from Missouri landfills.
Our step-by-step process handles cannabis waste disposal responsibilities, allowing facilities to focus on other vital business operations. We will:
Conduct a thorough assessment to evaluate your facility's waste stream needs.
Create a customized waste management plan tailored specifically to your facility.
Deliver empty 55-gallon drums to your facility for the collection of your waste.
Return to your facility and render your waste unusable before departing.
Log the rendered waste in the waste manifest and compost it.
Whether you need services weekly, bi-monthly, or as needed, our team is here to assist you. Get in touch with a member of our team to schedule your pick-up today!