Solid & Hazardous Waste Exclusions

Materials that do not meet the RCRA criteria are not considered solid wastes and are not subject to RCRA regulations. However, it is important to keep in mind that under the RCRA definition, "solid wastes" do not actually have to be solid. Many liquids, sludges, and contained gaseous materials are considered solid waste.

Certain materials are specifically excluded from the definition of a solid waste. Examples of excluded materials include the following:

• Domestic sewage
• Point-source (a single identifiable source) industrial wastewater
• Shredded circuit boards
• Spent wood preservatives
• Many other materials

In addition, certain solid wastes are excluded from the definition of a solid waste for a variety of reasons, including the following:

• Public policy
• Economic reasons
• Lack of data
• Impracticability of enforcing the regulation of a specific waste
• Status of the waste is regulated by other laws

Most of the wastes excluded are covered by other standards, such as the Clean Water Act or the Atomic Energy Act. These types of exclusions to solid waste regulation may be found in 40 CFR 261.4(a).

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