Question:
What are hazardous wastes?
Answer:
Hazardous wastes are any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous materials which are no longer used and, if not handled or disposed of properly, could damage or pollute the land, air, or water. They can also cause injury or death to exposed individuals. A waste is hazardous if it exhibits one or more of the following characteristics:
IGNITABILITY: Ignitable vapors can create fires under certain conditions. Examples include liquids, such as solvents that readily catch fire, and friction sensitive substances.
CORROSIVITY: Corrosive wastes include those that are acidic and those that are capable or corroding metal, such as tanks, containers, drums, and barrels.
REACTIVITY: Reactive wastes are unstable under normal conditions. They can create explosions and/or toxic fumes, gases, and vapors when mixed with water.
TOXICITY: Toxic wastes are harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed. When toxic wastes are disposed of on land, contaminated liquid may drain from the waste and pollute ground water.
Question:
What is the Universal Waste Rule?
Answer:
The Universal Waste Rule was written in 1995 to streamline environmental regulations for wastes generated by large numbers of businesses in relatively small quantities. It is designed to reduce the amount of hazardous waste disposed of in municipal solid waste, encourage the recycling and proper disposal of certain common hazardous wastes, and reduce the regulatory burden for businesses that generate these wastes.Universal wastes are items that have been commonly thrown into the trash by businesses. Although handlers of universal wastes can meet less stringent standards for storing, transporting, and collecting these wastes, handlers must still comply with the full hazardous waste requirements for final recycling, treatment, or disposal. By providing a waste management structure that removes these wastes from municipal landfills and incinerators, this rule ensures stronger safeguards for public health and the environment. Examples of universal waste are: batteries, agricultural pesticides, mercury-containing thermostats, and lamps.
Question:
How is generator defined?
Answer:
Generator is defined as any person, by site, whose act or process produces hazardous waste identified or listed in Part 261 or whose act first causes a hazardous waste to become subject to regulation (40 CFR §260.10). The generator of a waste may not necessarily be the person who actually produced the waste. For example, a contractor who removes hazardous residues from a product storage tank is the first person to cause the waste to become subject to regulation, rather than the owner of the tank. Although the person removing the waste from the unit is not the owner or operator of the unit, but he or she may be considered a generator. The owner or operator of the unit may also be considered a generator since the act of operating the unit led to the generation of the hazardous waste. In other words, both the person that removed the waste and the owner or operator of the tank are considered to be co-generators. In cases where one or more persons meet the definition of generator, all persons are jointly and severally liable for compliance with the generator regulations (45 FR 72024, 72026; October 30, 1980). If more than one party plays a role in the generation.
Question:
Are waste generators required to test their wastes to determine whether or not it exhibits a hazardous waste characteristic?
Answer:
A person who generates a solid waste must determine if that waste is a hazardous waste. They may do this by either testing or using their knowledge of constituents in the waste and the process that produces the waste (40 CFR §262.11(c)). It should be noted, if a generator applies knowledge of the waste he/she is required to be correct in the hazardous waste determination.
Question:
What are the container requirements for generators accumulating hazardous waste in satellite accumulation areas?
Answer:
Generators accumulating hazardous waste in satellite accumulation areas must comply with the container standards in Sections 265.171, 265.172, and 265.173(a) (Section 262.34(c)(1)(i)). Specifically, the containers must be in good condition, compatible with the hazardous waste, and always closed during accumulation. Generators must also mark their containers in satellite accumulation areas with words that identify the contents of the containers, such as “Hazardous Waste” (Section 262.34(c)(1)(ii)).