Understanding Hazardous Waste under USEPA and RCRA
Understanding Hazardous Waste under USEPA and RCRA: Definition, Characterization, and Storage Hazardous waste can pose serious risks to human health and the environment if not properly managed. Under the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), hazardous waste is identified, characterized, and regulated through a detailed “cradle-to-grave” system. In this post, we explore what hazardous waste is, how it’s classified, and the rules governing its proper storage and handling. 1. What Is Hazardous Waste? Hazardous waste is broadly defined as a waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. Under RCRA, a material must first be a “solid waste”—a term that includes liquids, solids, sludges, or contained gases—before it can be evaluated as hazardous. Once confirmed to be a solid waste, EPA determines whether the material is hazardous by: 1. Listing ...