RCRA

Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is a United States federal law enacted in 1976 to govern the management of solid and hazardous waste. Its purpose is to protect human health and the environment by preventing improper handling, storage, and disposal of waste, promoting resource conservation, and encouraging recycling and waste reduction.

RCRA established cradle-to-grave management for hazardous waste, covering generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. It created a system of hazardous waste manifests to track waste from generator to final disposition and required practices for permits, facility design, operation, closure, and financial assurance. The act also regulates storage and treatment facilities, including groundwater monitoring and corrective action when releases occur. In addition, RCRA governs nonhazardous solid waste under Subtitle D, with exemptions and distinctions for municipal solid waste and household waste.

Key program areas are Subtitle C, which sets standards for hazardous waste while Subtitle D addresses the broader solid waste stream. The act also establishes land disposal restrictions that prohibit disposal of untreated hazardous waste and require treatment prior to land disposal, and it contains provisions on generator status, transporters, and new handling rules such as universal waste.

Amendments: The Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 strengthened RCRA by expanding groundwater protection, requiring corrective action for releases, tightening permits and closure requirements, and addressing underground storage tanks (Subtitle I).

Administration: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) implements RCRA at the federal level, with many states authorized to operate approved programs. Federal regulations are codified in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations, spanning generators, transporters, treatment, storage, and disposal facilities, as well as related programs and exemptions.