Treatment is any process that changes the characteristics of a waste to make it less of an environmental threat. Treatment not only helps to neutralize a waste; it can also recover energy or material resources from the waste, render the waste less hazardous, or make the waste safer to transport, store, or dispose of. A common treatment for municipal solid waste is high temperature incineration. Treatments for hazardous wastes are more complicated and varied. EPA works with scientists and industry to develop new treatment technologies for hazardous wastes. The Agency also monitors hazardous waste treatment facilities by issuing permits. In order to receive permits, these facilities must make regular reports and develop contingency plans for spills and accidents.
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