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. It is important to note that rules found in other sections of the RCRA regulations also address the problem of groundwater contamination. For example, 40 CFR Part 264 prescribes rules for land disposal units and groundwater monitoring requirements.

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