Groundwater Protection

To avoid leaving the protection of groundwater up to chance, Congress mandated that the EPA provide instructions on how a given type of hazardous waste must be treated. These form the basis for the LDR program. For example, burning certain organic hazardous wastes is required in order to destroy toxic elements that can leach into groundwater. In contrast to waste containment methods (such as asphalt caps), treatment provides a more reliable method of reducing the risks associated with hazardous wastes. This is because with many forms of treatment, the hazardous elements are destroyed rather than simply contained.

In some cases, the hazardous elements of a given type of waste cannot be completely destroyed. These wastes are treated in such a way that the contaminants are stabilized or immobilized. In this scenario, the hazardous elements are changed so that they are chemically or physically bound to the wastes that contain them. This reduces the likelihood that these hazards will leach into groundwater supplies.

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