Lion's office will be closed December 25 and 26. Online training support is available every day from 8:30 AM to 5 PM ET via support@lion.com.
Search

New RCRA Exclusion for Wipes: Has Your State Adopted Yet?

Posted on 10/13/2017 by Roger Marks

A few years ago, US EPA added an exclusion to the RCRA hazardous waste regulations to relax the management requirements for solvent-contaminated wipes and rags. Wipes contaminated with a solvent are one of the most common forms of waste in industry. Wipes and rags are used for cleaning and other purposes in tens of thousands of facilities nationwide, EPA estimates.

Solvent-rag-2-(1).jpgUnder the new exclusion for contaminated wipes, wipes contained with certain solvents may be excluded from some burdensome RCRA hazardous waste requirements.

Facilities can capitalize on the exclusion to save time and effort spent managing wipes as RCRA hazardous waste. That said, there are new requirements that generators must follow to qualify for the exclusion, including:
 
  • Container management/storage standards
  • Unique container marking requirement
  • A 180-day accumulation time limit
  • Rules for managing free liquids
  • Documentation and recordkeeping rules
To take advantage of the exclusion without running afoul of RCRA hazardous waste regulations, generators must identify which solvent-contaminated rags are eligible (and which are not) and select an authorized disposal or laundering facility.

If any the conditions for exclusion are not met, the wipes or rags will be subject to RCRA—which means management mistakes could cost facilities as much as $71,264 per day, per violation.


Where Is the Exclusion in Effect?

While the new RCRA exclusion took effect at the Federal level in early 2014, not all states have yet adopted the relaxed standards. 

The map below, taken from US EPA’s website, shows which states have adopted the new exclusion for solvent contaminated wipes. Generators in these states can use the new exclusion now.


More detailed information about State adoption of the new exclusion is available on EPA’s website, here.


Learn to Use the New Exclusion Now

On October 24, join a full-time Lion instructor for live training on how to use the new exclusion for solvent-contaminated wipes to save your facility time, effort, and money. In 60 minutes, we cover everything you need to know to take advantage of the new exclusions and start saving now.

Managing Solvent Contaminated Wipes Webinar 

This is the final session of this webinar scheduled for 2017. Don’t miss it! 
 

Tags: hazardous, new rules, RCRA, waste

Find a Post

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

The course was very informative and presented in a way that was easily understood and remembered. I would recommend this course.

Jeffrey Tierno

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Best instructor ever! I was going to take my DOT training w/a different provider, but based on this presentation, I will also be doing my DOT training w/Lion!

Donna Moot

Hazardous Waste Professional

I think LION does an excellent job of any training they do. Materials provided are very useful to my day-to-day work activities.

Pamela Embody

EHS Specialist

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

I attended training from another provider and learned absolutely nothing. Lion is much better. Hands down.

Nicole Eby

Environmental Specialist

I have over 26 years of environmental compliance experience, and it has been some time since I have attended an environmental regulations workshop. I attended this course as preparation for EHS Audits for my six plants, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Frank Sizemore

Director of Regulatory Affairs

Much better than my previous class with another company. The Lion instructor made sense, kept me awake and made me laugh!

Marti Severs

Enterprise Safety Manager

The instructor's energy, enthusiasm, and knowledge of the subject make the class a great learning experience!

Brian Martinez

Warehouse Operator

This training broke down the regulations in an easy-to-understand manner and made them less overwhelming. I now feel I have the knowledge to make more informed decisions.

Amanda Oswald

Shipping Professional

These are the best commercial course references I have seen (10+ years). Great job!

Ed Grzybowski

EHS & Facility Engineer

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

Decrease spill, release, and injury risk and increase savings with these "source reduction" strategies to prevent unused chemicals from becoming regulated as hazardous waste.

Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.