Hazardous Waste

Waste minimization not only protects the environment; it also makes good economic and business sense. For example, reducing waste generation through waste minimization has helped some companies change their RCRA regulatory status from large quantity generators (1000 or more kilograms of hazardous waste generated per month) to small quantity generator (between 100 and 1000 kg of hazardous waste generated per month), or to conditionally exempt small quantity generators (up to 100 kg of hazardous waste generated per month). Some have …

Read MoreWhat are the benefits of waste minimization?

Waste Minimization is EPA’s preferred approach to protecting the environment. It refers to the use of source reduction and/or environmentally sound recycling methods prior to treating or disposing of hazardous wastes. Waste minimization includes: source reduction practices that reduce or eliminate waste generation at the source and environmentally sound recycling practices where source reduction is not economically practical. Waste minimization does not include waste treatment, i.e., any process designed to change the physical, chemical, or biological character or composition of …

Read MoreWhat is waste minimization?

Scenario: An individual operates a dry cleaning business that has been generating hazardous waste since 1980. A new owner buys the facility in June 2003 and assumes the generator responsibilities, which includes keeping records of hazardous waste activities (e.g., signed manifests) for at least three years from the time the waste was first sent off site (40 CFR Section 262.40). Question: Must the new owner or operator keep the records from the previous generator’s activities for a period of three …

Read MoreWhat are the recordkeeping requirements for owners and operators?

The amount of waste per MONTH determines generator status. Question: An individual generates 75 kg of non-acutely hazardous waste each month from January to November. Instead of shipping this waste off site for disposal, the generator accumulates the waste on site in containers. In December, the generator produces an additional 75 kg of non- acutely hazardous waste and hires a transporter to ship a total of 900 kg off site for treatment and disposal. Is this generator subject to the …

Read MoreHow much waste determines generator status?

The form 8700-12 is the registration form to complete and submit to obtain the EPA ID#.

An EPA ID # is a registration number provided by a delegated State Agency with the approval of the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. The ID # is assigned to a physical location. The business and the property owners are associated with the registration. The ID # registers a physical location and identifies it as a place where hazardous waste is generated. Furthermore, the location identifies the volume and type of hazardous waste generated at that location. The volume and type …

Read MoreWhat is an EPA ID number?

RCRA stands for the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976. Congress outlined four major programs in RCRA, including: Solid Waste (Subtitle D): Focuses on traditional non-hazardous solid waste, such as municipal garbage, medical waste and industrial waste that is not classified as hazardous waste; Hazardous Waste (Subtitle C): Requires EPA to develop and manage a nationwide program that identifies wastes that are hazardous and set standards for safely managing this waste from the moment it is generated, through storage, …

Read MoreWhat is RCRA?