Management of Hazardous Waste Management Units

RCRA regulations provide specific rules for the different methods for handling hazardous waste, and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs) must adhere to these rules (refer to 40 CFR 264, Subparts I through K). The focus of this unit is on the specific units that are used for each different method of handling waste at TSDFs. For all types of units, the objectives for the RCRA unit-specific regulations is to prohibit the release of toxic material into the surrounding environment. The regulations address the following aspects of hazardous waste management units:

• Design
• Construction
• Operation
• Maintenance
• Closure (for example, when a unit is taken out of service, or when a facility ceases operation)
• Financial assurance requirements for closure (for example, a closure trust fund, surety bond guaranteeing a closure trust fund, closure letter of credit, closure insurance, or corporate guarantee for closure backed by financial criteria)

New RCRA provisions address the marking and labeling of hazardous waste that is stored in hazardous waste management units in the following ways:

• Accumulated on-site by SQGs and LQGs in containers and tanks
• Stored by hazardous waste transporters in containers at transfer facilities
• Stored by TSDFs under the storage prohibition of the land disposal restriction requirements

Refer to 40 CFR 262, 263, and 268 to ensure compliance with requirements for marking and labeling.

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