What Is Hazardous Waste Minimization and Why Is It Required?

Hazardous waste minimization (or “waste minimization”) is the effort made by a generator to minimize or reduce the amount of hazardous waste generated on site. That effort is required by law for any large or small quantity generator who initiates the shipment of hazardous waste.

To avoid compliance errors and maximize the reward for compliance efforts, generators need to know:

• The two main types of waste minimization.
• Why waste minimization is required.
• The benefits of waste minimization.

The Two Types of Waste Minimization

Waste minimization typically involves either source reduction or sound recycling methods. This does not include treatment (i.e., any process designed to change the physical, chemical, or biological composition of waste).

Source reduction refers to any practice that reduces the amount of hazardous waste generated by production processes. Recycling often means either the reuse or sale of a production by-product rather than discarding it.

Why Is Hazardous Waste Minimization Required?

The mission of the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) is to protect human health and the environment. To do so, the Agency develops and enforces regulations, including the Federal hazardous waste regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

One of those regulations, found at 40 CFR 262.27, requires that generators who initiate shipments of hazardous waste certify that they made an effort to minimize or reduce the amount of hazardous waste their activities generated.

As noted in the opening paragraph of this article, hazardous waste minimization reduces the amount of hazardous waste a site generates. This helps protect human health and the environment, which is, of course, directly in line with the Agency’s mission statement.

The Benefits of Waste Minimization

Waste minimization can help some sites change their “generator category” (i.e., large quantity generator, small quantity generator, very small quantity generator), which can reduce the stringency of regulations that a hazardous waste generator site is required to follow.

Work to minimize hazardous waste can also reveal cost-saving measures, such as money saved on potential compliance violations, environmental liability, and waste management costs, recordkeeping, and paperwork burden.

RCRA Training for Generators

Lion offers a range of RCRA training courses for industry professionals at every stage of their career. For managers with overall responsibility for RCRA compliance, we recommend comprehensive RCRA Hazardous Waste Management training.

Browse all online and in-person RCRA training options at Lion.com/RCRA.

Tags: EPA, hazardous waste management, RCRA, waste minimization