Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and major amendments (CRS report, 2013)

Solid waste disposal act of 1965, resource conservation recovery act of 1976, and hazardous and solid waste of 1984

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Regulations

Subtitle D of the Act is dedicated to solid waste, while Subtitle C focuses on hazardous waste. Title 40 of the CFR parts 239 through 259 contain the regulations for solid waste. The regulations governing hazardous waste identification, classification, generation, management, and disposal are found in Title 40 CFR parts 260 through 273. Other relevant regulations under RCRA include managing used oil and standards for underground storage tanks, which can be found in Title 40 CFR parts 279 through 282. 

Solid waste

Any discarded material (solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gas) resulting from industrial activities.

Hazardous waste

A solid waste that is either listed by EPA or shows one of the four hazardous characteristics.

Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLF) broad

Key Points of 40 CFR Part 258: Design Requirements, Location Restrictions, Operating Criteria, Groundwater Monitoring, and Closure and Post-Closure Care

Design Requirements

Liners and leachate collection systems are required to prevent groundwater contamination. Biogas control systems may be required under other federal regulations

Location Restrictions

Landfills must not be located in floodplains, wetlands, seismic zones, or unstable areas.

Operating Criteria

Facilities must manage waste to prevent contamination, odors, fires, and disease vectors, with clear procedures for waste acceptance and handling.

Groundwater Monitoring

Landfills must install monitoring systems and conduct regular sampling. Records must be maintained and made available to regulators.

Closure and Post-Closure Care

Landfills must develop closure plans, install final cover systems, and monitor and maintain environmental controls for at least 30 years.

Hazardous waste characteristics

Characteristic wastes are wastes that exhibit any one or more of the following characteristic properties: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity or toxicity.

ignitable

Wastes that are hazardous due to the ignitability below 60 °C, non-liquids that cause fire through specific conditions, _________ compressed gases and oxidizers. EPA assigned D001 as the waste code for ignitable hazardous wastes.

corrosivity

Wastes that are hazardous due to the _______ characteristic include aqueous wastes with a pH of less than or equal to 2, a pH greater than or equal to 12.5 or based on the liquids ability to corrode steel. EPA assigned D002 as the waste code for corrosive hazardous wastes.

reactivity

Wastes that are hazardous due to the _____ characteristic may be unstable under normal conditions, may react with water, may give off toxic gases and may be capable of detonation or explosion under normal conditions or when heated. EPA assigned D003 as the waste code for reactive hazardous wastes.

toxicity

Wastes that are hazardous due to the _____ characteristic are harmful when ingested or absorbed. Toxic wastes present a concern as they may be able to leach from waste and pollute groundwater. Codes D004 through D043 

Some common hazardous wastes are:

•Spent solvent wastes,

•Dioxin-bearing wastes,

•Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons production,

•Wood preserving wastes,

•Petroleum refinery wastewater treatment sludges

Cradle-to-Grave concept

RCRA requires tracking hazardous waste from generation → transportation → treatment → storage → disposal. Prevents illegal dumping and contamination.