How do I dispose, recycle, or treat dangerous waste?
You are responsible for your dangerous waste from cradle to grave. This means you:
- Must properly manage your waste as soon as you generate it.
- Must dispose of it under the guidelines in the dangerous waste regulations.
- Are responsible for the waste as long as it exists — even after proper disposal.
Most dangerous waste generators hire a waste service provider to haul and dispose of their wastes. Your options depend on your generator status.
Small quantity generators
Small quantity generators must properly dispose of dangerous waste in a:
- Permitted dangerous (hazardous) waste facility
- Permitted solid waste facility
- Permitted Moderate Risk Waste (MRW) facility
- Permitted industrial waste facility
- A facility that beneficially uses or reuses or legitimately recycles or reclaims the waste
Small quantity generators may transport their own waste to disposal facilities. If your business is an SQG, ask your local solid waste authority to find out if they will accept your waste.
Medium and large quantity generators
Medium or large quantity generators must hire a permitted waste service provider to transport and dispose dangerous waste. Permitted waste facilities are called Treatment, Storage, and Disposal (TSD) facilities.
Some medium and large quantity generators are allowed to transport their own waste, under certain rules.
Recycle or treat dangerous waste
You may be able to recycle or treat waste at your facility. This may benefit you by:
- Reducing the amount of waste you generate
- Making your waste less hazardous through treatment
- Lowering your disposal, handling, or liability costs
- Reducing your regulatory requirements
Recycling
Some wastes are cost-effective to recycle, such as:
Treatment by generator
Treatment can make wastes less hazardous or easier/safer to transport. Under certain conditions, you may treat your own wastes on site without a permit. This is called “treatment by generator.”