Categories of Generators & Their Responsibilities

A generator is defined as any individual or organization that generates hazardous waste. Regulations are more stringent for those generators that are generating greater amounts of hazardous waste.

There are three main categories of generators, defined by the amount of hazardous waste generated each month. The generator category is determined on a month-by-month basis based on changes in the volume of waste that the generator is handling. A generator must determine its generator category monthly, and a generator can only have one category per calendar month.

The generator categories are as follows:

• Large quantity generators (LQGs) generate, in a calendar month, any of the following amounts:
  • Equal to or more than 1,000 kilograms of non-acute hazardous waste
  • More than one kilogram of acute hazardous waste
  • Greater than 100 kilograms of any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill of any acute hazardous waste
  Examples of LQGs include petroleum refineries, chemical processing facilities, and industrial facilities that generate hazardous waste as a byproduct of their manufacturing process. may be exempt from certain requirements; refer to 40 CFR 262.17 for the conditions for exemption.

• Small quantity generators (SQGs) generate, in a calendar month, the following amounts:
  • Greater than 100 but less than 1,000 kilograms of non-acute hazardous waste
  • Less than or equal to one kilogram of acute hazardous waste
  • Less than or equal to 100 kilograms of any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill of any acute hazardous waste
  This category may apply to facilities such as dry cleaners, automotive body shops, or health clinics. SQGs may be exempt from certain requirements; refer to 40 CFR 262.16 for the conditions for exemption.

• Very small quantity generators (VSQGs). In addition to the LQG and VSQGs categories, there is also a VSQG category (previously termed "conditionally exempt small quantity generator"). VSQGs generate, in a calendar month, less than or equal to the following amounts:
  • 100 kilograms of non-acute hazardous waste
  • One kilogram of acute hazardous waste
  • 100 kilograms of any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill of any acute hazardous waste
  Examples of VSQGs include businesses such as machine shops, dry cleaners, or photo processors. VSQGs may be exempt from certain requirements; refer to 40 CFR 262.14 for the conditions for exemption.

The new RCRA generator ruling provides flexibility to VSQGs to ship their waste to an LQG under the control of the same company. This change has the potential to reduce operating costs to the company, reduce environmental liability, increase recycling, and reduce the amount of VSQG hazardous waste being sent to municipal solid waste landfills. Refer to 40 CFR 262.14 for details about this consolidation.

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