The Waste Management Hierarchy

To accomplish the goals of RCRA, all handlers of waste are responsible for implementing methods of waste management that reduce the volume of waste and make it safe for the environment. To help handlers of waste visualize how to accomplish this, the EPA established a solid waste management hierarchy. In this hierarchy, the preferred waste management methods are listed in order from the most preferred management approach to the least preferred, as follows:

• Most preferred: Source reduction and reuse of waste
• Second preferred: Recycling and composting of waste
• Third preferred: Energy and material recovery from waste
• Least preferred: Treatment and disposal of waste

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