Applicability

Generators, transporters, and owners and operators of hazardous waste facilities must comply with the RCRA regulations. Together, these people are known as the "regulated community."

The profile of people who handle hazardous waste is diverse. They may be involved in creating or "generating" the waste, transporting it, or disposing of it. Generators range from do-it-yourselfers who change the oil in their personal lawn mowers to manufacturing facilities that generate huge volumes of waste annually. A transporter could be an individual trucker who delivers hazardous waste across town or a multi-national company that transports hazardous waste across the continent. Likewise, a hazardous waste facility may be a local recycling center or a 50-acre landfill operation.

Given this diversity, all people who handle hazardous wastes should familiarize themselves with the regulations. This makes it possible for them to evaluate their own regulatory obligations and ensure that their handling of hazardous waste is RCRA-compliant.

To learn more about RCRA safety standards visit our RCRA Refresher Online Training web page.