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Waste Identification

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Universal Wastes are wastes that do meet the regulatory definition of hazardous waste, but are managed under special, tailored regulations.

Definition of Solid Waste

The Off-Site Rule

Key Documents

RCRA Orientation Manual: Hazardous Waste Identification (PDF, 26 pp., 400 KB)

Definition of Solid Waste Identification and Hazardous Waste Recycling
(PDF, 23 pp., 69 KB)

Solid and Hazardous Waste Exclusions (PDF, 29 pp., 87 KB)

Hazardous Waste Identification (PDF, 30 pp., 437 KB)

RCRA Hazardous Waste Delisting: The First 20 Years (PDF) (32 pp, 112K, About PDF )

Scoping Study (PDF) (278 pp, 1.3MB, About PDF)

Solvents Study (PDF) (52 pp, 545K, About PDF)

The hazardous waste identification (HWID) process is the crucial first step in the hazardous waste management system. Correctly determining whether a waste meets the RCRA definition of hazardous waste is essential to determining how the waste must be managed. The waste generator has responsibility for determining if a waste is a RCRA hazardous waste. (See: 40 CFR 262.11)

The HWID process consists of four questions:

1. Is the material a solid waste? (See: 40 CFR Part 261.2)
2. Is the waste specifically excluded form RCRA? (See: 40 CFR Part 261.4)
3. Is the waste a listed hazardous waste? (See: 40 CFR Part 261.30)
4. Does the waste exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste? (See: 40 CFR Part 261.20)

Delisting

RCRA provides a process to remove, or "delist", a waste generated at a facility from the list of hazardous wastes. This delisting process is initiated by the generator (the person who creates the waste) who prepares a petition for delisting the waste. These regulations are codified in 40 CFR 260.22.

For more information about the national Hazardous Waste Delisting Program, visit RCRA Hazardous Waste Delisting: The First 20 Years.

Laws & Regulations

EPA has promulgated a number of laws & regulations relating to Hazardous Waste Identification.

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