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Waste
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An agricultural establishment produces many types of wastes in its daily operations. It is important that these wastes are identified and managed properly to protect yourself, coworkers, and others in the community, as well as the environment. As a waste generator, you are responsible for all wastes generated at your site, including both hazardous and nonhazardous wastes.
- Biological Waste
- Solid Waste
- Hazardous Waste
- Universal Waste
- Used Oil
- Wastewater - Onsite/Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (Septic Systems)
Biological Waste
Biomass Energy Conversion StudyThe Iowa Energy Center's Biomass Energy Conversion (BECON) facility, in partnership with U.S. EPA Region 7, will investigate the feasibility of establishing new, bio-based plastic manufacturing processes. BECON represents a multi-million dollar investment by the Iowa Energy Center to produce value-added products from farm crops and wastes and transferring that knowledge to industry. The pilot will obtain the expertise necessary to delineate processes, develop cost estimates for equipment, define operational control strategies, and estimate operating costs for pilot-scale equipment.
Most plastics currently are produced by petroleum. These processes produce significant quantities of toxic or hazardous byproducts. To the extent that these plastics can be displaced by products made from cleaner, biological sources, the wastes associated with current plastic production can be minimized. Additionally municipal solid waste streams contain significant amounts of paper, food wastes, scrap wood, yard wastes, etc. (biological materials). These waste streams are potential feedstocks for creating plastics. By diverting biological wastes from the municipal solid waste stream, these materials become valuable products with productive reuse.
More information from EPA
Fact Sheet on BECON (PDF) (2 pp, 4.1MB)
Solid Waste
Solid waste means any garbage or refuse; sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility; and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities.More information from EPA
WastesMore information from the states
Solid Waste State Resource Locator
Hazardous Waste
A waste may be considered hazardous if it is ignitable (i.e., burns readily), corrosive, or reactive (e.g., explosive). Waste may also be considered hazardous if it contains certain amounts of toxic chemicals. In addition to these characteristic wastes, EPA has also developed a list of more than 500 specific hazardous wastes. Hazardous waste takes many physical forms and may be solid, semi-solid, or even liquid.Acute hazardous wastes contain such dangerous chemicals that they could pose a threat to human health and the environment even when properly managed. These wastes are fatal to humans and animals even in low doses.
The RCRA hazardous waste program regulates commercial businesses, including agricultural establishments and other agribusinesses, as well as Federal, State and local government facilities that generate, transport, treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. Each of these entities is regulated to ensure proper management of hazardous waste from the moment it is generated until its ultimate disposal or destruction.
Unless prohibited by other State or local laws, agricultural producers can dispose of solid, non-hazardous agricultural wastes (including manure and crop residues returned to the soil as fertilizers or soil conditioners, and solid or dissolved materials in irrigation return flows) on their own property.
Agricultural irrigation return flows are not considered hazardous waste. Agricultural producers disposing of waste pesticides from their own use are exempt from hazardous waste requirements as long as they triple rinse the emptied containers in accordance with the labeling to facilitate removal of the chemical from the container, and dispose of pesticide residue on their own agricultural establishment in a manner consistent with the disposal instructions on the pesticide label.
Disposal of hazardous waste on an agricultural establishment could subject the agricultural producer to significant responsibility, including closure and post-closure care. Off-site disposal of hazardous waste could subject agricultural producers to hazardous waste generator requirements.
Related publications from the Ag Center
WasteRelated laws and policies
About RCRA and Ag RequirementsRelated environmental requirements
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
40 CFR Part 261
40 CFR Part 262
40 CFR Part 270
40 CFR Part 271More information from EPA
Hazardous Waste
Managing Your Hazardous Waste: A Guide for Small Businesses (PDF) (31pp, 996K)
Waste Minimization
Land Disposal Restrictions: Summary of Requirements (PDF) (119 pp, 904K)
Hazardous Waste Listings (PDF) (118 pp, 612K) - A user-friendly reference document that describes EPA’s hazardous waste listing regulations under the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Subtitle C1More information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
National Response Plan - a comprehensive all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidentsTelephone assistance from EPA
RCRA Hotline: 800-424-9346More information from the states
RCRA/Hazardous Waste Resource Locator
Universal Waste
The Universal Waste rule is designed to reduce the amount of hazardous waste items in the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream, encourage recycling and proper disposal of certain common hazardous wastes, and reduce the regulatory burden on businesses that generate these wastes. Universal wastes include:- Batteries such as nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) and small sealed lead-acid batteries, which are found in many common items in the business and home setting, including electronic equipment, mobile telephones, portable computers, and emergency backup lighting.
- Agricultural pesticides that have been recalled or banned from use, are obsolete, have become damaged, or are no longer needed due to changes in cropping patterns or other factors. They often are stored for long periods of time in sheds or barns.
- Thermostats, which can contain as much as 3 grams of liquid mercury and are located in almost any building, including commercial, industrial, agricultural, community, and household buildings.
Universal wastes are generated by small and large businesses that are regulated under RCRA and have been required to handle these materials as hazardous wastes. The Universal Waste Rule eases the regulatory burden on businesses that generate these wastes. Specifically, it streamlines the requirements related to notification, labeling, marking, prohibitions, accumulation time limits, employee training, response to releases, offsite shipments, tracking, exports, and transportation. For example, the rule extends the amount of time that businesses can accumulate these materials on site. It also allows companies to transport them with a common carrier, instead of a hazardous waste transporter, and no longer requires companies to obtain a manifest.
The universal waste rule does not apply to businesses (such as many agricultural establishments and other agribusinesses), that generate less than 220 pounds (100 kilograms) of universal wastes per month (Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators). EPA encourages these businesses to participate voluntarily in collection and recycling programs by bringing these wastes to collection centers for proper treatment and disposal.
Related publications from the Ag Center
WasteRelated laws and policies
About RCRA and Ag RequirementsRelated environmental requirements
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
40 CFR Part 273More information from EPA
Universal Waste RuleTelephone assistance from EPA
RCRA Hotline: 800-424-9346State Programs and Information
Universal Waste Resource Locator
Used Oil
Used oil is any oil that has been refined from crude oil or any synthetic oil that has been used and as a result of such use is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. Simply put, used oil is exactly what its name implies -- any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has been used. During normal use, impurities such as dirt, metal scrapings, water, or chemicals can get mixed in with the oil, so that in time the oil no longer performs well. Eventually, this used oil must be replaced with virgin or re-refined oil to do the job at hand.EPA's used oil management standards include a three-pronged approach to determine if a substance meets the definition of used oil. To meet EPA's definition of used oil, a substance must meet each of the following three criteria:
- Origin -- the first criterion for identifying used oil is based on the origin of the oil. Used oil must have been refined from crude oil or made from synthetic materials. Animal and vegetable oils are excluded from EPA's definition of used oil.
- Use -- the second criterion is based on whether and how the oil is used. Oils used as lubricants, hydraulic fluids, heat transfer fluids, buoyants, and for other similar purposes are considered used oil. Unused oils, such as bottom clean-out waste from virgin fuel oil storage tanks or virgin fuel oil recovered from a spill, do not meet EPA's definition of used oil because these oils have never been "used." EPA's definition also excludes products used as cleaning agents or solely for their solvent properties, as well as certain petroleum-derived products like antifreeze and kerosene.
- Contaminants -- the third criterion is based on whether or not the oil is contaminated with either physical or chemical impurities. In other words, to meet EPA's definition, used oil must become contaminated as a result of being used. This aspect of EPA's definition includes residues and contaminants generated from handling, storing, and processing used oil. Physical contaminants could include metal shavings, sawdust, or dirt. Chemical contaminants could include solvents, halogens, or saltwater.
Used Oil Is:
- Synthetic oil -- usually derived from coal, shale, or polymer-based starting material
- Engine oil -- typically includes gasoline and diesel engine crankcase oils and piston-engine oils for automobiles, trucks, boats, airplanes, locomotives, and heavy equipment
- Transmission fluid
- Refrigeration oil
- Compressor oils
- Metalworking fluids and oils
- Laminating oils
- Industrial hydraulic fluid
- Copper and aluminum wire drawing solution
- Electrical insulating oil
- Industrial process oils
- Oils used as buoyants
This list does not include all types of used oil.
Used Oil Is Not:
- Waste oil that is bottom clean-out waste from virgin fuel storage tanks, virgin fuel oil spill cleanups, or other oil wastes that have not actually been used
- Products such as antifreeze and kerosene
- Vegetable and animal oil, even when used as a lubricant
- Petroleum distillates used as solvents
Oils that do not meet EPA's definition of used oil can still pose a threat to the environment when disposed of and could be subject to the RCRA regulations for hazardous waste management.
Agricultural producers who generate an average of 25 gallons or less per month from vehicles or machinery per calendar year are exempt from regulations. Those exceeding 25 gallons are required to store it in tanks meeting underground or aboveground technical requirements and to use transporters with EPA authorization numbers for removal from the farm. Storage in unlined surface impoundments (defined as wider than they are deep) is banned.
Related publications from the Ag Center
WasteRelated laws and policies
About RCRA and Ag Requirements
Related environmental requirements
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
40 CFR Part 279More information from EPA
Managing Used Oil: Advice for Small Businesses
Used Oil Management ProgramTelephone assistance from EPA
RCRA Hotline: 800-424-9346
This page is sponsored by
EPA's Ag Center. 