Small quantity waste generators

The major (nonhazardous) solid waste provision in RCRA is the prohibition of open dumps. This prohibition is implemented by the states, using EPA criteria to determine which facilities qualify as sanitary landfills and may remain open. EPA was required to revise the sanitary landfill criteria for facilities that receive small quantities of generator hazardous waste or hazardous household waste. In general, the new criteria require liners, leachate collection, groundwater monitoring, and corrective action at municipal landfills. 

Most nonexempt nonacute hazardous waste generated on location is considered a small quantity. In this case, the waste may remain on location for 90 days. At that time, a Department of Transportation licensed motor carrier must transfer the waste to a EPA certified TSDF for disposal. Appropriate documentation and packaging must be conformed to. The operator continues to be liable for the waste as denoted by the cradle to grave concept [233],... 

The laboratory operator must make a careful examination of all wastes that will be generated and, from this, work up a waste disposal system. Some wastes may be compatible and could be disposed of together. Others could react and thus cause problems. Flammables must be given special attention. Certain biological wastes may be very hazardous even in small quantities. Special rules apply to radioactive materials, even in the small amounts used for investigative purposes. 

Units burning hazardous waste produced by conditionally exempt small quantity generators. 

Chemical compatibility tests using U.S. EPA Method 909040 should always be performed for hazardous waste sites, but some municipal waste sites also contain hazardous, nondegradable materials. U.S. EPA conducted a 5-year study of the impact of municipal refuse on commercially available liner materials and found no evidence of deterioration within that period. However, in a current study of leachate quality in municipal landfills, the Agency has discovered some organic chemical constituents normally found in hazardous waste landfill facilities. Apparently, small quantities of household hazardous waste enter municipal sites or are disposed of as small quantity generator wastes. As a result of these findings, U.S. EPA developed a position on the need for chemical compatibility tests for thousands of municipal waste disposal sites. 

Special requirements for hazardous waste generated by conditionally exempt small quantity generators Yes 40 CFR 261.5 EPA 1986c... 

Catalysts are materials that change the rate at which chemical equilibrium is reached without themselves undergoing any change. Through the phenomenon of catalysis, very small quantities of a catalytic material can facilitate several thousand transformations. In addition to the remarkable increases in activity observed in the presence of a catalyst, an additional attribute of catalysts is that there is often a selectivity toward certain reaction products. Often, this selectivity is of greater importance than activity since a highly selective process eliminates the generation of wasteful by-products. 

Right now there is no easy way to dispose of very small quantities of hazardous household products, such as pesticides, batteries, outdated medicines, paint, paint removals, used motor oil, wool preservatives, acids, caustics, and so on. There are no places that accept such small quantities of wastes as generated by a small industrial/commercial site. For now, the best disposal techniques are listed in Table 1, which is recommended by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, Bureau of Solid Waste Disposal. 

Small Quantity Generator (SQG) generates less than 1000 kg of hazardous waste in a month, and/or less than 1 kg of acutely hazardous waste (acutely hazardous waste is listed in the State regulations). 

When a small or a very small quantity generator is to ship only waste oil or a very small quantity generator is to spiU other waste, a transporter s log instead of a manifest may be used for that shipment. However, the generator must register on a prescribed form with the State of Massachusetts. 

If an industrial plant is classified as a small quantity generator (SQG), the plant manager may accumulate up to 2000 kg or 4400 lb in containers, or up to 6000 kg (approximately 1650 gal or 6245 L) in tanks for as long as 180 days according to Massachusetts regulations 310 CMR 30.351. If both tanks and containers are used to store hazardous waste and/or waste oil, the total waste that can be accumulated at any one time may not be determined by adding the two limits. The 180 day clock may be started when a total of 100 kg, (approximately 25 gal or 94.63 L) is accumulated, if the containers are redated at that time. 

The plant as a very small quantity generator (VSQG) in Massachusetts may accumulate up to 600 kg (approximately 165 gal or three 55 gal drums) of hazardous waste in containers that meet the standards introduced previously, with no time limit. 

If a Massachusetts plant produces more than 1000 kg (approximately 265 gal) of waste oil in a month, the plant s waste oil must be shipped within 90 days but the plant is not subject to certain written plans and reports under Massachusetts Management Requirements. The plant may, however, be classed as a small quantity generator (SQG) or very small quantity generator (VSQG) of other hazardous wastes. 

If the amount of hazardous waste a medical office produces in a month is less than 25 gal (95 L), this medical office qualifies as a very small quantity generator (VSQG) in Massachusetts. As a VSQG, the medical office is required to register with the State regulatory agency, label its wastes as hazardous, and ship it with a licenced hazardous waste hauler or precious metal transporter to a licenced treatment or disposal facility. 

Massachusetts Law requires industrial plants that produce hazardous waste to (a) identify their wastes (b) count their wastes to determine monthly quantities (c) manage their wastes properly, based on the State requirements on monthly quantities of hazardous wastes that can be stored (d) apply for a federal USEPA-ID if the industrial plant is a small quantity generator (SQG) or very small quantity generator (VSQG) or (e) register with the State Division of Hazardous Waste if the plant qualifies as a very small quantity generator (VSQG). 

A Case History for Disposal of Photographic Wastes by a Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG)... 

The company produced less than 100 kg (220 lb or approximately 25 gal) of hazardous waste a month. Accordingly, it was eligible to be registered as a very small quantity generator (VSQG). 

The generator of the solvent waste is a small quantity generator of 100-1000 kg/month of hazardous waste. 

The waste audit program is Intended to provide assistance to California s small quantity generators of hazardous waste. This is accomplished by issuing contracts to evaluate waate reduction opportunities in industries typically comprised of small to medium businesses. Waste-generating operations are studied to identify potentials for reducing waste, recycling or recovering resources, or alternative treatment measures. The economic feasibilities of the various alternatives are analyzed, and the study results are compiled in a final waste audit report. 

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