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Disposal
National Information
Non-Hazardous Waste Regulations
Summary of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
- State environmental agencies are the primary implementers of the solid waste program.
- RCRA Subtitle D requires states to develop permitting programs to ensure facility compliance with the federal regulations.
- All Region 5 states have received approval for their Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Permit programs.
Region 5 Disposal Projects and Grants
Region 5 Illegal Dumping Prevention Project
At the federal level, land disposal of non-hazardous solid waste is regulated primarily under the authority of Subtitle D of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). RCRA was enacted in 1976 to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, conserve energy and natural resources, and reduce the amount of waste generated.
Federal Regulations for Land Disposal Facilities
- Municipal Solid Waste Landfills
- 40 CFR Part 258 - Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLFs)
The 1984 Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments to RCRA led to the promulgation of minimum standards for locating, designing, operating, and closing a municipal solid waste landfill. Regulations were also issued under the Clean Air Act to control non-methane organic air emissions from municipal solid waste landfills. - All Region 5 states have received approval for their Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Permit programs. The notices were published in the Federal Register, and are available below or from your local library.
- Illinois: 1/3/94, Volume 59, No. 1, page 86
- Indiana: 10/8/96, Volume 61, No. 196, page 52791 (PDF) (3pp, 28K About PDF)
- Michigan: 4/8/97, Volume 62, No. 67, page 16804 (PDF) (3pp, 26K About PDF)
- Minnesota: 8/16/93, Volume 58, No. 156, page 43350
- Ohio: 6/13/94, Volume 59, FR Doc. 94-14283
- Wisconsin: 11/20/96, Volume 61, No. 225, page 59096 (PDF) (3pp, 26K About PDF)
- 40 CFR Part 258 - Criteria for Municipal Solid Waste Landfills (MSWLFs)
- Facilities that accept Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator Waste
- 40 CFR Part 257, Subpart B - Disposal standards for the receipt of conditionally exempt small quantity generator (CESQG) wastes at non-municipal, non-hazardous waste disposal units. Businesses that produce small amounts of hazardous waste, known as conditionally exempt small quantity generators may dispose of their waste in solid waste disposal facilities. Part 257, Subpart B criteria contain standards for non-municipal land disposal units that accept this waste (municipal landfills that accept this waste must meet 40 CFR Part 258 requirements described above). These criteria address location restrictions, requirements for monitoring of groundwater, and corrective action provisions to clean up any contamination.
- All other solid waste land disposal facilities
- 40 CFR Part 257 Subpart A - Criteria for Classification of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and Practices
These general performance standards were issued in 1979 prior to the more comprehensive requirements described above. These standards apply to waste piles, surface impoundments, and industrial non-hazardous waste landfills. These criteria establish standards for determining whether these solid waste facilities are protective of human health and the environment. Facilities that fail to meet these standards are classified as "open dumps". The criteria provide the basis for enforcing the prohibition on "open dumps" and may be used by citizen suits in federal court.
- 40 CFR Part 257 Subpart A - Criteria for Classification of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities and Practices