The LDR Program

A number of important regulations apply to the disposal of hazardous waste on land. Land disposal units include landfills and surface impoundments. Units such as these must meet federal requirements that are designed to protect the environment and human health from the hazards of toxic exposures. A significant focus of the requirements for land disposal is the avoidance of groundwater contamination. The LDR program, which is found in 40 CFR 268, provides an additional layer of protection beyond the required regulations for liners, leak detection systems, and groundwater monitoring laid out in 40 CFR 264. The LDR program ensures that any waste disposed of on land meets treatment standards for reducing both the hazardous toxicity of the waste and the chance that this toxicity may spread beyond the designated area. This spreading could occur through the contamination of water supplies, or by the movement of toxic materials blown by the wind to areas outside the land disposal unit.

To learn more about RCRA visit our RCRA Hazardous Waste Safety Online Training web page.