Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
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Transcript Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA)
SAFE 210
Goals
Protect human health and environment from the
potential hazards of waste disposal
Conserve energy and natural resources
Reduce the amount of waste generated
Ensure that wastes are managed in an
environmentally sound manner
Major Amendments
Enacted in 1976 (as an amendment to the Solid
Waste Disposal Act of 1965)
1984 – Hazardous and Solid Waste
Amendments (HSWA)
Major Programs/Subtitles
Subtitle C:
Hazardous Waste
Subtitle D: Solid Waste
Subtitle I: Underground storage tanks
Subtitle C: Hazardous Waste
Management Program
What is Hazardous Waste?
Solid waste – Any garbage, refuse, sludge from
a waste treatment plant, water supply treat
Hazardous waste – A solid waste or combination
of solid wastes that lead to an increase in illness
or mortality or poses a hazard (or potential
hazard) to human health or environment when
improperly stored, treated, transported or
disposed.
Some Excluded Hazardous Waste
Domestic sewage
Irrigation waters or industrial discharges allowed
under the CWA
Nuclear material regulated by the Atomic Energy
Act
Household wastes
Certain mining and mineral processing wastes
What is Hazardous Waste?
Listed wastes
F, K, P, and U lists
Characteristic wastes
Ignitability
Corrosivity
Reactivity
Toxicity
Typical Wastes Generated by
Industries
Chemical
manufacturers
Vehicle maintenance
shops
Printing industry
Paper industry
Metal manufacturing
Acids, bases, reactive & ignitable
wastes
Paint wastes, ignitable wastes,
spent solvents
Heavy metals, inks
Ignitable & corrosive wastes, inks
Acids/bases,, cyanide wastes,
sludges containing heavy metals
“Cradle to Grave”
Applies to those who:
generate
recycle
transport
treat
store
dispose
Generators - Classifications
Large Quantity Generator
Generates greater than 1000 kg/mo (5 drums)
Small Quantity Generator
Generates 100 kg/mo to 1000 kg/mo (1/2 drum
- 5 drums)
Conditionally Exempt SQG
Generates less than 100 kg/mo (1/2 drum)
Generators - Responsibilities
Tracking
Identification number
Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
Package/mark/label waste
File biennial reports (LQG)
Specific Generator
Responsibilities
Large quantity generator
90 day storage limit
Contingency plan
Documented training
45 day exception reports
Small quantity generator
180 day storage limit (270 days if >200 miles)
Undocumented training
60 day exception reports
Transporters
Comply with DOT provisions for labeling,
marking, placarding, and using proper containers
EPA ID Number
Maintain manifests
Spill cleanup
Treatment, Storage, and Disposal
(TSD) Facilities
Some requirements include:
EPA ID number
Permit
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Physical and chemical analysis
Security
Inspection plan
Training
Equipment
Contingency plan
Manifests
Biennial reports
Closure/post closure
Tracking & Permitting Systems
Tracking System
EPA Identification Number
Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
Permitting System
Precautions to manage waste
Land Disposal Restrictions
Requires treatment before land disposal
Types of land disposal include:
- Landfills
- Surface impoundments
- Underground injection wells
- Waste piles
The State’s Role
Oversee hazardous waste tracking system
Operate the permitting system
Ensure public participation requirements are met
Act as enforcement
Subtitle D: MSW and Industrial
Solid Waste
Municipal solid waste (MSW)
Trash generated homes, industries, and commercial
and institutional offices
Industrial solid waste/industrial hazardous waste
Wastes and wastewaters generated by
manufacturing processes that are not considered
hazardous