The EPA, as part of the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, outlined procedures for the handling
and tracking of hazardous waste. As part of this act, the EPA gave
a list of almost 100 process wastes and 450 chemicals to considered
hazardous to health or to the environment. To help determine if
the product is hazardous, the EPA instructed users to assess the
material's corrosivity, ignitability, reactivity and toxicity. For
example, an aqueous material is considered hazardous if its pH is
less than 2 or greater than 12.5.
A hazardous waste generator must mark
each package with the relevant DOT hazardous materials regulations
prior to shipping the material off site. In addition, the EPA has
now included a 90 day accumulation rule. With this, the user must
mark the date on which waste accumulation started. All containers
with less than 110 gallons must be marked with the following information:
-
HAZARDOUS WASTE- Federal Law Prohibits
Improper Disposal. If found, contact the nearest police of public
safety authority or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Generator's Name and Address
- Manifest Document Number
