Mixed Waste

Certain radioactive materials are exempted from the RCRA definition of solid waste. In some cases, however, radioactive material may be mixed with hazardous materials that are regulated under RCRA. In other cases, facilities may generate hazardous waste that is also radioactive. Both of the wastes generated in these situations contain both a hazardous component and a radioactive component. The RCRA regulations call this type of waste "mixed waste." The following types of facilities are considered to be generators of mixed waste:

• The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
• Power plants
• Labs
• Hospitals
• Universities that use radioactive materials

Mixed wastes are regulated jointly by the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (AEA) and RCRA in the following manner:

• The Atomic Energy Act regulates the RCRA-exempt radioactive portion of the waste.
• RCRA regulates the hazardous waste portion.

Certain mixed wastes are conditionally exempted from certain RCRA requirements. These exempted mixed wastes include low-level mixed waste (LLMW), and naturally occurring and accelerator-produced radioactive materials (NARM).

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