BE CAREFUL. YOU’RE BEING WATCHED. Nowadays businesses operate in a milieu wherein the public has been trained to view hazardous waste as an unmitigated evil—without consideration that it is almost always the byproduct of a public good they would be loath to do without. In such atmosphere you’re typically guilty until being proven not-that-guilty; [...]
Since 1976, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) has required that a manifest accompany the movement of a hazardous waste from its point of origin (aka: the generator) to the hazardous waste management facility that’s legally “permitted” by the EPA to provide for its hazardous waste disposal (aka: the destination facility). This manifest, [...]
Any enterprise intending to engage in hazardous waste “treatment” is required to obtain a treatment permit from the EPA, per the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Bear in mind that the EPA deems almost any facet of hazardous waste management as an instance of “treatment,” including any effort to make a hazardous waste non-hazardous [...]
Solid or otherwise, not all waste that incidentally contains alcohol necessarily requires hazardous material removal. So how do you know? EPA hazardous waste regulations stipulate that any aqueous solution with a flashpoint below 140F is ignitable and therefore requires hazardous waste management. However, this rule does not apply to aqueous solutions containing less than [...]
Throughout the last few years, regulations governing electronic cigarettes and related products (like the e-liquids or “juice” they require to function) have strengthened significantly. Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) finalized a rule that widened their authority to regulate e-cigarettes and products as tobacco products, despite not actually containing tobacco. This [...]
Depending on your politics, you might be celebrating this morning, or still seething. But wherever you stand, there's probably one thing we can all agree on: with Trump in the White House and the GOP controlling Congress, Republicans are now in position to bring about drastic change. Some of these changes might include massive tax cuts for [...]
If you’re unsure what kind of hazardous materials you might be in possession of, it’s absolutely essential to have hazardous waste tests performed. Whether it’s due to poor labeling, improper storage, or some other factor, it’s not always clear to customers what kind of waste they’re dealing with when looking for disposal options. When [...]
Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes guidelines for the recycling of hazardous waste. These guidelines highlight the difference in what’s considered legitimate recycling versus what is determined to be sham recycling (illegitimate). So, what exactly is sham recycling? Let’s start by defining what’s legitimate. Defining Legitimate [...]
We have long said that failing to remain in compliance with the many different regulations out there will cost you more in the end. With an increase in penalties fast approaching, it’s more true now than ever before. Due to Congress amending the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990 in 2015, the Environmental [...]
Most generators understand that hazardous waste is a serious threat to human health and the environment alike. They’re also likely aware that when disposing any hazardous material, they have to contact a waste disposal company to do so properly. What some generators may not know, however, is that generator responsibility goes further than that. [...]
