Leaching of Toxic Contaminants

Hazardous waste that is disposed of on land can pollute nearby groundwater through a process known as leaching. Leaching is a process by which rainwater, melting snow, or other precipitation drains through the ground and collects toxic contaminants out of buried wastes, and then carries them into underground water stores. The LDR program requirement that waste must be treated or meet specific levels of reduced toxicity is one example of the EPA's efforts to reduce the hazard of groundwater contamination.

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