EPA Proposes Change to Hazardous Waste Rule

Lynn Schenkman

Washington, D.C. -- In order to increase recycling of hazardous wastes, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a change to federal hazardous waste management regulations. The agency will exclude continuous-process recyclable materials from hazardous waste management regulations.

Continuous process refers to materials, such as inorganic chemicals, plastic materials and resins, pharmaceutical preparations and cyclic crudes, that are reclaimed or recovered by the same company that generated them. However, the EPA will use appropriate enforcement of existing hazardous waste regulations if the materials are released to the environment. The proposed changes are expected to save $178 million per year in waste management costs.