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Definition

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The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to control hazardous waste from "cradle-to-grave." This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste. RCRA also set forth a framework for the management of non-hazardous wastes.

Additional Info

1986 amendments to RCRA enabled EPA to address environmental problems that could result from underground tanks storing petroleum and other hazardous substances. RCRA focuses only on active and future facilities and does not address abandoned or historical sites (see CERCLA).

In 1984, the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments (HSWA) were added to RCRA that required phasing out land disposal of hazardous waste. Some of the other mandates of this strict law include increased enforcement authority for EPA, more stringent hazardous waste management standards, and a comprehensive underground storage tank program.

Books Available

NOTE: We may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links in the following list:

• "The Complete Guide to Hazardous Waste Regulations: RCRA, TSCA, HTMA, EPCRA, and Superfund, 3rd Edition", hardcover, 560 pages, 1999. Estimated price $165.00. Info and/or order.
• "Hazardous Waste Management, Reissue Edition", Hardcover, 1,232 pages, 2010. Estimated price $67.27. Info and/or order .
• "The Law of Hazardous Wastes and Toxic Substances in a Nutshell (Nutshell Series)", Paperback, 640 pages, 2000. Estimated price $33.00. Info and/or order .
• "Basic Hazardous Waste Management, Third Edition", Hardcover, 488 pages, 2001. Estimated price $88.95. Info and/or order .
• "Hazardous Materials and Hazardous Waste Management, 2nd Edition", Hardcover, 488 pages, 1999. Estimated price $133.17. Info and/or order .
• "21st Century Complete Guide to Hazardous Waste Management, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and EPA Regulations, Hazmat Regulations, DOT Rules" CD-ROM, 2007. Estimated price $25.00. Info and/or order .

SDS Relevance

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Some of the information required by RCRA is the same information that is found in a Safety Data Sheet. After all, a hazardous waste is generated after one uses a hazardous chemical. Therefore, one will sometimes find certain RCRA, TSCA and SDS information in the same sources.

Further Reading

• View the U.S. Code, Title 42, Chapter 82 which is the full text of RCRA.
• A summary of RCRA at the U.S. EPA. You can also search the on-line RCRA database and view RCRA Requirements.
• Hazardous Waste Regulations at the US EPA.
• RCRA Update: Latest on Generator Improvements Adoption (2022) at Lion Technology.
• RCRA Recent Changes Or What's New With Haz Waste (2019) at the Retail Industry Leaders Association.
• How and Why Your RCRA Generator Status Can Change at Sharps Compliance.
• A Guide to RCRA Training at Wastebits.
• Commentary: Where Things Stand with Hazardous Waste Regulation (2009) at Resources For The Future.

See also: ATSDR, CERCLA, EPCRA, TRI, SARA, TSCA.

Additional definitions from Google and OneLook.

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