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