Regulatory and Guidance Information by Topic: Waste

EPA regulates household, industrial, and manufacturing solid and hazardous wastes under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA's goals are to protect us from the hazards of waste disposal; conserve energy and natural resources by recycling and recovery; reduce or eliminate waste; and clean up waste that which may have spilled, leaked or been improperly disposed of.

• Hazardous Waste
  • Household Hazardous Waste
  • Recycling, Definitions, Exclusions

  Hazardous Waste

  The Hazardous Waste Program, under RCRA Subtitle C, establishes a system for controlling hazardous waste from the time it is generated until its ultimate disposal. The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration regulates the transport of hazardous materials.

  ​Laws and Regulations

  • Hazardous Waste Regulations
  • Medical Waste
  • Universal Waste: Laws and Regulations

  Compliance

  • Hazardous Waste Compliance Monitoring: information about inspections, evaluations and investigations.
  • RCRA Online: electronic database of selected letters, memoranda, questions and answers, and other publications about non-hazardous, hazardous and medical waste.
  • Exporters of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Hazardous Waste
  • Importers and Receiving Facilities of Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Hazardous Waste
  • Steps in Complying with Regulations for Hazardous Waste

  Enforcement

  Policy and Guidance

  • RCRA Guidance, Policy and Resources
  • Waste Enforcement Publications

  Household Hazardous Waste

  • Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
  • Household Hazardous Waste and Demolition

  Recycling

  • Hazardous Waste Recycling
  • Frequent Questions Related to Hazardous Waste Recycling, the Definition of Solid Waste and Other Exemptions and Exclusions
  • Regulatory Exclusions and Alternative Standards for the Recycling of Materials, Solid Wastes and Hazardous Wastes

  Non-Hazardous Waste/Solid Waste

  The Solid Waste Program, under RCRA Subtitle D, encourages states to develop comprehensive plans to manage nonhazardous industrial solid waste and municipal solid waste, sets criteria for municipal solid waste landfills and other solid waste disposal facilities, and prohibits the open dumping of solid waste.

  Laws and Regulations

  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
  • Solid Waste Regulations

  Compliance

  • RCRA Online: electronic database of selected letters, memoranda, questions and answers, and other publications about non-hazardous, hazardous and medical waste.
  • Guide for Industrial Waste Management

  Policy and Guidance