The manual helps small businesses determine whether they generate hazardous waste and provides comprehensive information on how to comply with the federal hazardous waste regulations for small quantity generators. It explains how to obtain an EPA identification number, manage hazardous waste on site, ship hazardous waste off site, comply with land disposal restrictions, and conduct good housekeeping.

Table of Contents:

Introduction
Deciding Whether Hazardous Waste Regulations Apply toYou
     Defining Hazardous Waste
     Identifying Your Waste
     Finding Your Generator Category
Overview of Requirements for Conditionally Exempt
Small Quantity Generators
Obtaining an EPA Identification Number
Managing Hazardous Waste on Site
     Accumulating Your Waste
     Treating Your Waste to Meet the Land Disposal Restrictions
     Preventing Accidents
     Responding to Emergencies
Shipping Waste off Site
     Selecting a Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility
     Labeling Waste Shipments
     Preparing Hazardous Waste Manifests
     Land Disposal Restrictions Reporting Requirements
     Export Notification
     Closure
Summary of Requirements for Large Quantity Generators
Where to Get More Help
     EPA and Other Federal Resource Centers
     EPA Regional Offices
Acronyms and Definitions

Download Managing Your Hazardous Waste: A Guide for Small Businesses

PDF format, 995KB, 31Pages. Published by EPA.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Solid Waste (5305W)
530-K-01-005
December 2001

INTRODUCTION

Does your business generate hazardous waste? Many small businesses do. If you need help understanding which federal hazardous waste management regulations apply to your business, this handbook is for you. It has been prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to help small-business owners and operators understand how best to comply with federal hazardous waste management regulations.

This handbook provides an overview of the regulations to give you a basic understanding of your responsibilities. It should not be used as a substitute for the actual requirements. All of the federal hazardous waste regulations are located in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 260 to 299 (www.epa.gov/epacfr40).

EPA defines three categories of hazardous waste generators based upon the quantity of hazardous waste they generate per month: (1) Conditionally exempt small quantity generators (CESQGs), which generate less than 220 lbs (100 kg) per month. (2) Small quantity generators (SQGs), which generate between 220 lbs (100 kg) and 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) per month. (3) Large quantity generators (LQGs), which generate more than 2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) per month.

Each category of generator must comply with the hazardous waste rules specific to that category. This handbook is intended primarily for businesses that generate a small quantity of hazardous waste (SQGs and CESQGs) to help them learn about regulations that apply to them.

This handbook explains only the federal requirements for hazardous waste management. Many states have their own hazardous waste regulations based on the federal hazardous waste regulations. In some of these states, the requirements are the same as the federal standards and definitions. Other states, however, have developed more stringent requirements than the federal program. If this is the case in your state, you must comply with the state regulations. To become familiar with your state's requirements, consult your state hazardous waste agency.

Visit Managing Your Hazardous Waste: A Guide for Small Businesses Website

Defining Hazardous Waste:

A waste is any solid, liquid, or contained gaseous material that is discarded by being disposed of, burned or incinerated, or recycled. (There are some exceptions for recycled materials.) It can be the byproduct of a manufacturing process or simply a commercial product that you use in your business such as a cleaning fluid or battery acid and that is being disposed of. Even materials that are recyclable or can be reused in some way (such as burning solvents for fuel) might be considered waste. Hazardous waste can be one of two types:

           Listed waste. Your waste is considered hazardous if it appears on one of   
           four lists published in the Code of Federal Regulations (40 CFR Part 261).
           Currently, more than 500 wastes are listed. Wastes are listed as           
           hazardous because they are known to be harmful to human health and     
           the environment when not managed properly. Even when managed          
           properly, some listed wastes are so dangerous that they are called            
           acutely hazardous wastes. Examples of acutely hazardous wastes include
            wastes generated from some pesticides and that can be fatal to humans  
           even in low doses.

           Characteristic wastes. If your waste does not appear on one of the
           hazardous waste lists, it still might be considered hazardous if it                
           demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics:

                It catches fire under certain conditions. This is known as an ignitable    
                waste. Examples are paints and certain degreasers and solvents.

                It corrodes metals or has a very high or low pH. This is known as a       
                corrosive waste.  Examples are rust removers, acid or alkaline              
                cleaning fluids, and battery acid.

                It is unstable and explodes or produces toxic fumes, gases, and           
                vapors when mixed with water or under other conditions such as heat  
                or pressure. This is known as a reactive waste. Examples are certain  
                cyanides or sulfide-bearing wastes.

                It is harmful or fatal when ingested or absorbed, or it leaches toxic        
                chemicals into the soil or ground water when disposed of on land.      
                This is known as a toxic waste. Examples are wastes that contain        
                high concentrations of heavy metals, such as cadmium, lead, or         
                mercury.

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