Notification of dangerous waste activity

Paper reporting during COVID-19

Because of the coronavirus outbreak, for those businesses that usually mail paper copies to us, we are offering more ways to submit your documents. Please see our COVID-19 Dangerous Waste Compliance page for more information.

You are required to notify us if you manage dangerous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and Washington State Dangerous Waste Regulations.

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What is an EPA/State ID number?

An EPA/State ID number is tied to a single geographic location, as opposed to a particular business name. You will need this number if you are a:

Site generating regulated amounts of dangerous waste.
Transporter of dangerous waste.
Facility that transfers, stores, treats, recycles, or disposes dangerous waste.

It is used to identify your site on things such as:

The Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest that accompanies and identifies dangerous waste shipments.
EPA's e-Manifest system.
Your Dangerous Waste Annual Report.

This number is used for both federal and state regulations to report dangerous waste activities. It is not a license or permit.

How to apply for an EPA/State ID Number

First, make sure your site has no number associated with it:

Look up the address for your site.

If your site’s address has:

No number assigned to it, begin filling out the Dangerous Waste Site ID form. Choose "New Site Identification number."
An inactive number assigned to it, begin filling out the Dangerous Waste Site ID form. Choose "Reactivate Site Identification number.
An active number, please contact us for assistance.

Note: EPA/State ID Numbers are not transferable to other physical locations (unless you are a transporter).

How do I notify Ecology about other waste activities?

If you decide to manage your waste under the following circumstances, you must:

Fill out the appropriate addendum.
Open your pre-printed Site ID form in TurboWaste and print it.
Mail these to Ecology at:
- HWTR Annual Reporting Team
  P.O. Box 47658
  Olympia, WA 98504

If you do not have access to TurboWaste, please contact us.

Addendums

Episodic generation is a planned or unplanned waste event that would normally bump your generator category to a larger category. Only medium and small quantity generators can choose to follow this rule. You may notify us of one episodic event in a calendar year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31).

Planned episodic event

If you intend to have an episodic event, you must notify us first:

Fill out the Episodic Addendum.
Mail it with your pre-printed Site ID form.

We recommend that you submit your notification a minimum of 60 days prior to the planned event proposed start date.

If we receive your form less than 30 calendar days before the proposed start date, we will change your start date to meet the minimum 30 calendar day requirement. An email will be sent to you confirming the start date.

Unplanned episodic event

Unexpected waste generation events require immediate notification:

Within 72 hours of the event, notify your regional HWTR office by email or fax.
Within 30 days of the event, fill out the addendum and mail it with your pre-printed Site ID form.

The HWTR Annual Reporting Team will email you to confirm all forms have been received and if there's anything further they need.

Second episodic event in the same calendar year

You must petition your regional office and wait for our approval before managing your dangerous waste as episodic.

If approved, you must:

Fill out the Episodic Addendum.
Mail it with your pre-printed Site ID form.
Include the inspector's letter of approval.

This rule allows large quantity generators (LQGs) to receive waste from state small quantity generators (SQGs) that are under the same company, if they meet the conditions for exemption (WAC 173-303-200(15)).

To manage your state SQG waste under large quantity consolidation:

Fill out the LQG Consolidation Addendum.
Mail the addendum with a pre-printed Site ID form to Ecology.

You may not begin consolidation until Ecology has approved your notification. Consolidation may begin 30 days or more after approval.

To update or add additional state SQG sites:

Fill out the LQG Consolidation Addendum.
Mail the addendum with a pre-printed Site ID form to Ecology.

Hazardous secondary material (HSM) is material that, when discarded, is identified as dangerous waste during recycling processes involving solid waste (WAC 173-303-017(7)). A generator of HSM may apply for a variance following the procedures in the chapter.

To start managing your HSM under these requirements, you must:

Contact your regional office to begin the application process.
Request and fill out the HSM Addendum.
Mail the pre-printed Site ID form and HSM Addendum form to Ecology.

Special requirements for pharmaceutical waste

Health care facilities must notify Ecology within 60 days of being subject to the special requirements for pharmaceutical waste.

Electronic submittal

To notify that your site is operating under the special requirements:

Login to SAW to access TurboWaste.
From your assigned sites page, click on the site you need to update.
Use the update notification link.

The pharmaceutical requirements section is located in Section 18 of the Site ID form.

Paper notification

To notify that your site is operating under the special requirements:

Fill out and print the pre-printed Site ID form located in TurboWaste. If you do not have access to TurboWaste, contact us for the form.
Select the option that applies to your facility in Section 18.

If submitting with a paper form, the form must:

Have an original, wet ink signature by an authorized representative for your site.
Be mailed to the address at the top of the form.

Note: We will return all forms that do not have an original, wet ink signature. Copies, faxes, or emails are not accepted.

Health care facilities

If you are no longer subject to the special requirements for pharmaceutical waste (WAC 173-303-555) because you are now a small quantity generator when counting all your dangerous waste (including your dangerous waste pharmaceuticals), you can withdraw.

Select the withdraw option on the Site ID form in Section 18b.

Reverse distributors

Reverse distributors may NOT withdraw from this rule.

No longer a reverse distributor? You may withdraw from this rule by withdrawing your EPA/State ID number.

Find more details in the Dangerous Waste Annual Report Guide.

Frequently asked questions

Changes to revise or update information are done through notifications.

Electronic submittal

To revise your information electronically:

Login to SAW to access TurboWaste.
From your assigned sites page, click on the site you need to update.
Use the update notification link.

Updates that require paper notification

All information can be updated electronically except:

Site name.
Site location (transporters only).
Legal ownership.