Regulations

In 1965, the Solid Waste Disposal Act was enacted to improve solid waste disposal methods. It was amended in 1970 by the Resource Recovery Act. In 1976 Congress again amended the Solid Waste Disposal Act to create a new program for the management of hazardous waste. The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) establishes a framework for national programs to achieve environmentally sound management of both hazardous and nonhazardous wastes. RCRA also promotes resource recovery techniques and methods to reduce the generation of hazardous waste. See RCRA Online.

Congress intended for States to assume responsibility for implementing the RCRA program with oversight from the Federal government because they believe the States are more familiar with the regulated community and are in a better position to administer the programs and respond to specific State and local needs.

In Region 5, the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin are authorized to implement the hazardous waste program (except in Indian Country). Under RCRA, States must regularly revise and update their programs to meet Federal requirements and submit revision applications to EPA for approval. See Illinois Solid Waste Disposal Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enforcement

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) each have specific responsibilities under RCRA. EPA issues guidelines and regulations for proper management of solid and hazardous wastes, oversees and approves the development of state waste management plans, and provides financial aid to agencies and firms performing research on solid waste. DOC encourages greater commercialization of proven resource recovery technologies. DOE oversees activities involving research and development of new techniques for producing energy from wastes. DOI oversees mineral waste problems, including recovery of metals and minerals and methods for stabilizing mining wastes.

In Illinois, hazardous waste is regulated by the Illinois EPA. The Bureau of Land (BOL) is responsible for the protection and restoration of land and groundwater resources in the State of Illinois. The BOL administers a broad variety of solid and hazardous waste management and cleanup programs.

The mission of the Bureau of Land is to:

  1. Ensure that hazardous and nonhazardous wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner;
  2. Encourage the recycling and recovery of waste materials through suitable incentive/distinctive efforts; and
  3. Provide remedial responses and/or provide oversight to the uncontrolled releases of hazardous and petroleum substances into the environment.

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The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

The primary objective of RCRA is to protect human health and the environment. A secondary objective is to conserve valuable material and energy resources by providing assistance to state and local governments for prohibiting open dumping; regulating the management of hazardous wastes; encouraging recycling, reuse, and treatment of hazardous wastes; providing guidelines for solid waste management; and promoting beneficial solid waste management, resource recovery, and resource conservation systems.

  1. RCRA provides for "cradle to grave" tracking of hazardous waste, from generator to transporter to treatment, storage, or disposal. 
  2. RCRA gives EPA the authority to control hazardous waste from "cradle-to-grave." This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste.
  3. RCRA requires the issuance of operating permits to hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. 
  4. RCRA provides for a cradle-to-grave tracking of hazardous waste through a record-keeping and labeling system that requires the manifesting of hazardous waste shipments (the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest) from point of generation to ultimate point of disposal. 


If hazardous waste is allowed to accumulate for a period greater than 90 days, a storage permit is required.

Generators of hazardous waste must certify that they have a hazardous waste minimization program in place.

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What Type of Hazardous Waste Generator is UIS?

The hazardous waste regulations that apply to UIS depend upon the amount of hazardous waste we generate per month. There are three categories of hazardous waste generators: 

Conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQG) generate less than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) per month of hazardous wastes

Small-quantity generators (SQG) generate 100 to 1,000 kilograms (220 to 2,200 pounds) per month of hazardous wastes

Large-quantity generators (LQG) generate over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) per month of hazardous wastes


Currently, UIS is a Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator (CESQG) based on the amount of hazardous waste generated on campus monthly. 

What Requirements Apply to CESQGs?

  1. Identify all hazardous waste that we generate.
  2. Hire a licensed special waste hauler to transport hazardous waste to a facility permitted to receive hazardous waste. 
  3. Do not accumulate more than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of hazardous waste on campus at any time.
  4. If you accumulate more than 220 pounds of Special Waste, you must use a hazardous waste manifest. 
  5. Store all hazardous waste in secure and clearly marked containers.

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