The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or RCRA (pronounced "Ric-ra"), is a federal law that gives the EPA the authority to oversee and control hazardous waste from the cradle to grave. Essentially, it gives the EPA the right to oversee the following aspects of hazardous waste:

• Generation
• Transportation
• Treatment
• Storage
• Disposal

A RCRA generator is defined as any individual or organization that generates hazardous waste. There are three main categories of generators:

• Large-quantity generators (LQGs) generate more than 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste or more than one kilogram of acutely hazardous waste per month.
• Small-quantity generators (SQGs) generate between 100 and 1,000 kilograms of hazardous waste per month.
• Conditionally exempt small-quantity generators (CESQGs) generate any of the following amounts in a given month:
  • Less than 100 kilograms of hazardous waste
  • Less than one kilogram of acutely hazardous waste (that is, waste found on the P-list such as arsenic, epinephrine, fluorine, nitric acid, and so on)
  • Less than 100 kilograms of acutely hazardous waste spill residue

Hazardous waste that is handled by Treatments, Storage, and Disposal Facilities (TSDFs) must be analyzed before it can be treated, stored, or disposed of. Personnel who handle ignitable, reactive, or incompatible wastes must follow specific guidelines.

The physical plant and its regulated units must be in compliance with RCRA regulations, including construction rules outlined in the CQA program. This program sets standards for surface impoundments, waste piles, and landfill units.

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