Types of Wastes

The LDR program applies to situations in which restricted hazardous waste is generated, transported, treated, stored, or disposed of. As we have discussed earlier in the course, the designation of a waste as "hazardous" can be determined in one of the following ways:

• The waste can be specifically listed as hazardous by the EPA, referred to as "listed waste."
• The waste can exhibit a characteristic of hazardous waste, referred to as a "characteristic waste."

Two more designations can be used to describe wastes destined for land disposal - restricted and prohibited.

The term "restricted waste" refers to all wastes that are subject to the LDR program regulations.

The term "prohibited wastes" refers to a smaller subset of restricted wastes that may not be disposed of on land until they are treated using an EPA-defined treatment. Subpart C of 40 CFR 268 lists prohibitions for a variety of wastes, including the following:

• Soils with the toxicity characteristic for metals and which contain PCBs
• Inorganic chemical wastes
• Coke by-products, and chlorotoluene production wastes
• Wastes with ignitable and corrosive characteristics

Once a handler treats the prohibited waste according to the specific treatment standard prescribed for it, the handler may then properly dispose of the waste by land. However, some wastes cannot be disposed of by land at all. Such wastes cannot meet any treatment standard and are therefore not eligible for any variance, extension, or exemption.

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