Glossary of Hazardous Waste Terms

The accumulation start date is the date when hazardous waste first begins accumulating in a container. This date must be clearly marked on every container and determines compliance with storage time limits (90 days for LQGs, 270 days for SQGs, 720 days for VSQGs). Exceeding storage time limits is a common RCRA violation.

The Biennial Report (BR) is a report that Large Quantity Generators must submit to the EPA every two years (odd-numbered years) detailing their hazardous waste generation, management, and disposal activities for the previous year. The report includes waste quantities, waste codes, receiving facilities, and minimization efforts.

A Commercial Driver's License (CDL) is required for drivers operating large commercial vehicles. Hazardous waste transporters typically require CDL holders with hazmat endorsements (H endorsement) and tanker endorsements (N endorsement) if transporting liquid waste in tanker vehicles. Drivers must also maintain current medical certificates.

Chemsweep is a national agricultural pesticide disposal program that helps farmers and ranchers properly dispose of obsolete, unwanted, or banned pesticides. The program provides collection events and disposal services, often at no cost to participants, funded by pesticide manufacturers and state agriculture departments.

A contingency plan is a written document required for Large Quantity Generators and TSDFs that describes procedures for responding to fires, explosions, and hazardous waste releases. The plan must include emergency coordinator contacts, evacuation routes, equipment locations, and agreements with local emergency responders.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates the transportation of hazardous materials, including hazardous waste. DOT regulations (49 CFR) govern packaging, labeling, placarding, and shipping papers for hazmat shipments. Hazardous waste transporters must comply with both EPA (RCRA) and DOT requirements.

An EPA e-manifest (electronic manifest) is the mandatory electronic tracking document for all hazardous waste shipments in the United States. Introduced in 2018, e-manifests replaced paper manifests and are managed through the EPA's RCRAInfo system. Each manifest tracks waste from the generator through the transporter to the final treatment, storage, or disposal facility (TSDF). All three parties must electronically sign the manifest.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the federal agency responsible for protecting human health and the environment. The EPA enforces RCRA regulations, manages the e-manifest system through RCRAInfo, issues EPA ID numbers to hazardous waste generators and transporters, and conducts compliance inspections. EPA violations can result in civil penalties up to $37,500 per day per violation.

An EPA ID number is a unique 12-character identifier assigned to hazardous waste generators, transporters, and TSDFs. The number is required for all hazardous waste activities and appears on every e-manifest. Facilities apply for EPA IDs through their state environmental agency or directly through EPA.

A hazardous waste generator is any facility that produces hazardous waste. Generators are classified by quantity: Large Quantity Generators (LQG) generate 1,000+ kg/month, Small Quantity Generators (SQG) generate 100-1,000 kg/month, and Very Small Quantity Generators (VSQG) generate less than 100 kg/month. Each category has different storage time limits and regulatory requirements.

Hazardous waste is waste that poses substantial or potential threats to public health or the environment. Under RCRA, waste is hazardous if it exhibits any of four characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity (tested via TCLP). Hazardous waste can also be 'listed waste' — specifically named in EPA regulations under 40 CFR 261.

Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) is an OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.120) requiring training for workers who handle hazardous waste or respond to hazardous substance emergencies. HAZWOPER training includes 24-hour or 40-hour initial training plus 8-hour annual refreshers. Field technicians at HHW events and lab pack jobs typically require HAZWOPER certification.

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) refers to hazardous materials generated by residential households, including paints, solvents, pesticides, batteries, electronics, and used motor oil. HHW collection events are temporary sites where residents can drop off these materials for proper disposal. HHW is exempt from some RCRA requirements but still requires proper handling.

Lab pack is a hazardous waste disposal service where a trained chemist visits a facility to identify, characterize, and package small quantities of diverse chemicals for proper disposal. Lab pack is commonly used by universities, research facilities, hospitals, and any facility with legacy or unknown chemicals. The chemist creates waste profiles, determines EPA codes, and packages waste according to DOT requirements.

Land Disposal Restrictions (LDR) are EPA regulations prohibiting the land disposal of hazardous waste unless it meets specific treatment standards. LDR notifications must accompany hazardous waste shipments to TSDFs, certifying that the waste meets treatment standards or identifying the treatment required before land disposal.

A Large Quantity Generator (LQG) is a facility that generates 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) or more of hazardous waste per month, or more than 1 kilogram of acutely hazardous waste per month. LQGs have the strictest requirements: 90-day storage limits, contingency plans, personnel training, and biennial reporting to the EPA.

A manifest discrepancy occurs when the information on an e-manifest does not match the actual shipment — typically weight differences greater than 10%, incorrect waste descriptions, or missing containers. Significant discrepancies require the receiving facility to file an exception report with the EPA within 15 days.

PaintCare is a nonprofit stewardship program that manages paint recycling in participating states. Paint manufacturers fund the program through fees on new paint sales. HHW collection events and retail drop-off sites accept leftover paint, which PaintCare arranges to be recycled, processed for energy recovery, or properly disposed of.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the primary federal law governing hazardous waste disposal in the United States. Enacted in 1976, RCRA gives the EPA authority to regulate hazardous waste from generation through final disposal — often called 'cradle to grave' tracking. RCRA establishes requirements for waste characterization, storage time limits, container management, manifesting, and recordkeeping.

RCRAInfo is the EPA's national database and information management system for RCRA hazardous waste data. It stores e-manifests, facility information, EPA ID numbers, compliance history, and inspection records. Generators, transporters, and TSDFs use RCRAInfo to submit and sign e-manifests electronically.

Satellite accumulation allows generators to accumulate up to 55 gallons of hazardous waste (or 1 quart of acutely hazardous waste) at or near the point of generation without a permit. Once the limit is reached, the waste must be moved to a central accumulation area within 3 days and the storage time clock begins.

A Small Quantity Generator (SQG) is a facility that generates between 100 and 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste per month. SQGs have 270-day storage limits (or 180 days if shipping more than 200 miles), and must comply with container management, labeling, and emergency preparedness requirements.

The Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) is an EPA test method used to determine if a waste exhibits the toxicity characteristic and is therefore classified as hazardous waste. TCLP simulates landfill conditions to measure whether toxic contaminants would leach into groundwater. If concentrations exceed EPA thresholds, the waste is hazardous.

A hazardous waste transporter is a company licensed to transport EPA-regulated hazardous waste from generators to treatment, storage, or disposal facilities. Transporters must have an EPA ID number, comply with DOT hazardous materials regulations, and sign e-manifests for every shipment. Drivers must hold CDL licenses with hazmat endorsements.

A Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility (TSDF) is a permitted facility that treats, stores, or disposes of hazardous waste. TSDFs must have EPA permits, comply with strict operating standards, and sign e-manifests acknowledging receipt of hazardous waste. Examples include incinerators, landfills, fuel blending facilities, and recycling operations.

A Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG), formerly called Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG), generates less than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste per month. VSQGs have fewer requirements than SQGs and LQGs but must still properly identify waste, use licensed transporters, and send waste to permitted facilities.

EPA waste codes are alphanumeric identifiers assigned to specific hazardous waste streams under 40 CFR 261. D-codes (D001-D043) indicate characteristic waste (ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, toxicity). F-codes indicate hazardous waste from non-specific sources. K-codes indicate hazardous waste from specific industries. P and U codes indicate discarded commercial chemical products.