EPA
United States Solid Waste and
Environmental Protection Emergency Response EPA530-S-92-027
Agency (OS-312) February 1993
National Biennial
RCRA Hazardous
Waste Report
(Based on 1989 Data)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Printed on Recycled Paper
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collects and maintains information about the
generation, management, and disposition of hazardous wastes that are regulated by the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, as amended. This Report
presents information for 1989. Data from a total of 20.7321 RCRA hazardous waste sites are
included in this Report Of these, 20,233 were large quantity generators and 3,078 were
treatment, storage or disposal (TSD) facilities. Most sites that were TSD facilities were also
large quantity generators.
RCRA HAZARDOUS WASTE GENERATION
Quantity Generated and Number of Generators
In 1989, a total of 197.5 million tons2 of RCRA hazardous waste was generated nationwide
by 20,233 large quantity generators: A small number of sites accounted for most of the
quantity. The largest 1 percent of sites generated nearly 97 percent of the hazardous waste.
More than three-quarters of all sites generated less than 100 tons of hazardous waste each,
together accounting for only 0.2 percent of the nationwide generation. Conversely, only 1.7
percent of the sites generated more than 10,000 tons each, contributing approximately 98
percent to the total U.S. RCRA hazardous waste generation.
1 This number includes 19 sites that claimed their data as Confidential Business Information (CBI).
2 This quantity represents RCRA hazardous wastes that were subsequently managed in units subject to RCRA
permitting requirements. RCRA hazardous wastes that were managed exclusively in units exempt from RCRA
permitting requirements are excluded from this report. See Chapter 2 for a more detailed discussion. This report
does not include the wastes classified as hazardous by the new Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)
rule adopted in 1990.
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National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report (Based on 1989 Data)
Among the States3, New Jersey reported the largest amount generated during 1989. Its total
generation of 47.1 million tons, or 23^8 percent of the national total, was followed by Michigan
with 35.1 million tons, Tennessee with 34.4 million tons, Texas with 28.2 million tons, and West
Virginia with 14.4 million tons. Twenty-two of the 55 States each reported generating less than
100,000 tons of RCRA hazardous waste, together representing only 0.2 percent of the
nationwide total (see Exhibit 1). California reported the largest number of generators with
2,387, or 11.8 percent of the national total, followed by Texas with 1,575, New Jersey with
1,434, and Illinois with 1,425.
Quantity Generated bv Industrial Sector
Industries in the manufacturing sector accounted for the majority of the number of RCRA
hazardous waste generators and the quantity of RCRA hazardous waste. Manufacturing sites,
designated by two-digit Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes 20 through 39, made up
58 percent of generators and accounted for almost 98 percent of the hazardous waste
quantity. Within the manufacturing sector, the chemicals and allied products industry (two-digit
SIC code 28) generated, by far, the largest quantity of hazardous waste, accounting for 88
percent of the total generation for the United States.
3 The term "State* includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Trust Territories, and the Virgin Islands.
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Executive Summary
Exhibit 1. RCRA Hazardous Waste Generation, Number of Generators, Hazardous Waste Management.
Number of TSD Faeilttiea, Imports and Exports, by State, 1989
STATE
ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FLORIDA
6EORGIA
GUAM : .
HAWAII
IDAHO
ILLINOIS i
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA '
NEBRASKA
NEVADA •
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH DAKOTA
OHIO
OKLAHOMA
ORE60N
PENNSYLVANIA
PUERTO RICO
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
TRUST TERRITORIES
UTAH
VERMONT
VIRGIN ISLANDS
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
TOTAL
GENERATED
(tons)
403.701
3,664
124.595
805.150
4,670,579
117,347
1,390,314
19.766
2.357
411.832
2.615,210
573
2.149
15.062
1.381.799
1,843,015
76,240
1,713.963
149,612
9,094,768
52,528
265,227
34,142
35.143.264
239,098
717.291
384,289
4,978
72.209
4,685
18,211
47,096.658
10,961
406,910
586.338
28,840
2,727.383
205,382
27,954
1,246,706
246,161
5,565
106.224
1,088
34.363.940
28,171,860
23
211.563
13.481
5.757
5.227.092
228,323
14,390.206
411.897
3.180
TOTAL 197.501.112
NUMBER
OF
GENERATORS
224
43
175
51
2.387
131
506
59
11
368
378
10
28
20
1,425
697
131
192
337
445
46
385
494
824
241
153
298
28
72
32
111
1.434
46
848
684
17
1.176
140
77
1,004
76
191
394
12
446
1.575
2
85
42
1
287
714
102
559
19
20,233
TOTAL
MANAGED
(tons)
564.189
29
95,737
824.156
4.978,478
81,292
366.215
3.472
0
359,733
2.551.209
1 0
803
45.951
1.441.365
2.021,016
74,653
1.700.795
145.481
9.205.887
0
211.256
0
35.067,217
348.586
697.961
289.531
2,857
83.959
20,246
5,952
46.931,754
6,355
419,838
565,799
25,451
2.710,118
228,363
65.285
1,139.446
243,417
12,897
175,807
0
34.533.270
27.788.963
2
258.227
106
5.757
5.324.021
170,943
14,335,403
371,333
287
196.500,866
NUMBER OF
TSD
FACILITIES
71
20
17
24
357
59
131
7
0
22
57
1
22
9
139
44
30
34
51
46
4
37
0
232
237
31
74
9
12
11
6
98
19
73
28
6
161
48
13
157
38
4
34
2
67
304
2
34
6
1
52
56
19
55
7
3.078
QUANTITY
IMPORTED
(tons)
333.661
0
778
115.352
28.556
1.984
21,253
1
0
16,617
18.188
0
149
37.524
285,886
313,484
2.330
26.167
92.282
238.750
0
7.731
0
199,634
12.581
18.649
96.944
0
19,115
15,142
211
165.933
16
141.488
36.168
660
402.061
113.781
57,330
356,702
6
13,707
151,652
122
67,541
189,576
2
' 46,639
100
0
53.109
15.501
1.774
23,387
0
3,740,225
QUANTITY
EXPORTED
(tons)
157,501
3.470
23.415
99.014
204,896
33.044
108,501
14,084
2,409
60.915
89.459
203
1.449
1,579
244.472
132,313
21.402
40,820
66,109
150.058
52,635
68.913
25,444
227.860
38,805
43,415
105,154
2,497
8.374
1,954
13,100
218.015
5,252
149.938
43.530
3.651
326,339
47.713
18,817
426.113
8,636
5,201'
38.535
1.372
41,335
298,396
24
6,505
13,840
0
40.988
57.476
63,767
111.190
2.954
3.972,853
1
Quantity managed only by storage is excluded
NOTE: Columns may not sum due to rounding.
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National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report (Based on 1989 Data)
Types of Hazardous Waste Generated
Approximately 95 percent of the RCRA hazardous waste reported was wastewater, a
substantial portion of which was classified as hazardous due to the "mixture"4 and "derived-
from"5 rules. These wastes were typically characterized by multiple "listed"6 EPA waste
codes. The most common characteristic waste code reported was D002, indicating corrosivity.
RCRA HAZARDOUS WASTE MANAGEMENT
Quantity Managed and Number of TSD Facilities
in 1989, a total of 3,078 TSD facilities reported the management of 196.5 million tons of RCRA
hazardous waste in units subject to RCRA permitting requirements. As with hazardous waste
generation, a few sites accounted for most of the hazardous waste managed. The three
largest hazardous waste TSD facilities accounted for 57 percent of the total RCRA hazardous
waste management quantity, while the 50 largest TSD facilities accounted for more than 90
percent of the total. Ninety-six percent of the hazardous waste generated was managed on
site, while four percent of the RCRA hazardous waste was shipped off site for management.
Among the States, the 5 largest generators were also the largest managers of RCRA
hazardous waste. During 1989, New Jersey managed 46.9 million tons, or 23.9 percent of the
national total, followed by Michigan with 35.1 million tons, Tennessee with 34.5 million tons,
Texas with 27.8 million tons, and West Virginia with 14.3 million tons (see Exhibit 1).
4 The mixture rule states that a waste must be managed as hazardous if it is a mixture of solid waste and one or more
listed hazardous wastes that have not been delisted.
s The derived-from rule states that any solid waste generated from the treatment, storage, or disposal of a listed
hazardous waste, induding any sludge, spill residue, ash, emission control dust, or teachate remains a hazardous
waste unless and until delisted.
* They bear EPA waste codes beginning with the letters F, P, U, or K.
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Executive Summary
California reported the largest number of TSD facilities with 357, followed by Texas with 304
facilities. Nationally, 58 percent of the TSD facilities only stored hazardous waste on site but
did not treat or dispose of hazardous waste in units subject to RCRA permitting requirements.
The 60 largest TSD facilities in the nation managed 93.3 percent of the hazardous waste. At
these facilities, 14.6 percent of the waste managed was characteristic waste, 36.0 percent was
listed waste, and 49.4 percent was both characteristic and listed waste. These percentages
closely match those for national hazardous waste generation.
Forty of the 60 largest TSD facilities were in the chemicals and allied products industry (two-
digit SIC Code 28). This industry accounted for 172.2 million tons, or 87.6 percent of the total
quantity of RCRA hazardous waste managed nationwide. Other industries included among
the 60 largest facilities were the petrochemicals and coal products industry (two-digit
SIC Code 29), the electronic and other electric equipment industry (two-digit SIC Code 36),
the fabricated metal products industry (two-digit SIC Code 34), the primary metals industry
(two-digit SIC Code 33), and the electric, gas, and sanitary services industry (two-digit
SIC Code 49).
Hazardous Waste Management Methods
In terms of the quantity of hazardous waste managed, the predominant waste management
method was the biological, physical, or chemical treatment of wastewater, accounting for 76
percent of the total. The management method that ranked second in quantity of waste
managed was underground injection wells (14%), another disposal method for wastewater.
Approximately 2.3 million tons, or 1.2 percent of the total quantity, was disposed in 86 landfill
facilities, while 1.3 million tons or 0.7 percent of the total quantity was incinerated7 at 221
facilities.
Incineration includes those quantities of waste that are treated by incinerators with RCRA permits. Incineration does
not include fuel blending or energy recovery, the two other treatment categories associated with thermal combustion
about which the biennial report collects data.
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National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report (Based on 1989 Data)
Exhibit 2 shows the quantities of RCRA hazardous wastes landfilled, incinerated, or injected
into underground wells, in each State. The remainder was disposed of by other methods or
recycled.
A total of nearly 8 million tons of RCRA hazardous waste was shipped off site for management
at 484 TSD facilities. The largest portion of this quantity was disposed of in landfills,
accounting for more than one-fourth of the total.
INTERSTATE HAZARDOUS WASTE MOVEMENT
Approximately 8 million tons, or 4 percent of the RCRA hazardous waste generated in the
United States in 1989, was shipped off site for management One-half of this total quantity,
or 4 million tons, was transported to a different State for management, while the balance was
managed in the same State in which it was generated. Exhibit 1 shows that Ohio imported
more waste than any other State, roughly 402,000 tons. Pennsylvania was the leading
exporter, sending more than 426,000 tons to other States for management.
Of the 55 States, 17 were net importers of RCRA hazardous waste, 37 were net exporters,
and 1 State, the Virgin Islands, neither imported nor exported waste. (A State is a net importer
if the total imports were greater than total exports.) The largest net importer of RCRA
hazardous waste was Indiana, with net imports of approximately 181,000 tons. California was
the largest net exporter, shipping approximately 176,000 tons more hazardous waste out of
State than it received. ;
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Executive Summary
Exhibit 2. Quantity of RCRA Hazardous Waste Landfilled, Incinerated, or Injected into Underground Wells,
1989
STATE
ALABAMA
ALASKA
ARIZONA
ARKANSAS
CALIFORNIA '
COLORADO
CONNECTICUT
DELAWARE
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FLORIDA
GEORGIA
GUAM
HAWAII,
IDAHO '
ILLINOIS
INDIANA
IOWA
KANSAS
KENTUCKY
LOUISIANA
MAINE
MARYLAND
MASSACHUSETTS
MICHIGAN
MINNESOTA
MISSISSIPPI
MISSOURI
MONTANA
NEBRASKA
NEVADA
NEW HAMPSHIRE
NEW JERSEY
NEW MEXICO
NEW YORK
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH, DAKOTA
OHIO 1
OKLAHOMA
OREGON1
PENNSYLVANIA
PUERTO RICO
RHODE ISLAND
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
TRUST TERRITORIES
UTAH
VERMONT
VIRGIN ISLANDS
VIRGINIA
WASHINGTON
WEST VIRGINIA
WISCONSIN
WYOMING
CBI *
QUANTITY
LANDFILLED
(tons)
353.580
0
262
188
2.167
213
261
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
172.641
330.758
0
4
0
266,640
0
0
0
200.175
27
3,367
5700
0
0
15,760
0
167
0
277,156
0
7
3,643
63.206
25
0
0
0
85.878
0
0
52.391
0
40,581
6
0
0
14
17.334
0
0
0
TOTAL 2.275.783
QUANTITY INCINERATED
(tons)
4.122
0
266
35.578
57.645
111
5254
888
0
0
11,779
0
1
2
28.668
35,358
3.014
3.100
1.256
113,607
0
6.261
0
28,102
3.886
78
69.003
0
0
100
0
359
10
43.916
0
441
176,810
898
26
8.881
38,162
0
35,767
0
0
521.822
0
394
3
0
13.288
0
28,699
2659
0
0
1,280.216
QUANTITY INJECTED
INTO UNDERGROUND
WELLS
(tons)
0
0
0
681,490
0
0
0
0
0
320.134
0
0
0
0
487,527
945,336
0
1,666.025
0
8.278.900
0
0
0
60.405
0
342,473
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1,330,688
64.703
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.583.784
12.194.749
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
70
27.956.288
Some sites 1n these states claimed their data as CBI. The national landfill quantity includes
hazardous waste landfilled at the CBI sites. The State quantities do not include hazardous waste
landfilled at the CBI sites (Total of 383.632 tons).
To preserve confidentiality, CBI data for underground injection were not incorporated into the State
totals.
NOTE: Columns may not sum due to rounding.
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National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report (Based on 1989 Data)
WASTE MINIMIZATION
Of the 20,7138 sites that reported in 1989, 6,067 sites (29 percent) engaged in one or more
new waste minimization9 activities during 1989. These 6,067 sites accounted for 50 percent
of the total quantity of RCRA hazardous waste generated in the nation, indicating that many
of the largest generators did engage in new waste minimization activities in 1989.
Approximately 37 percent of all sites reported conducting an opportunity assessment in 1988
or 1989 to identify practices that could lead to waste minimization.
The sites that engaged in new waste minimization activities during 1989 did so for only some
of the hazardous wastes they generated. Nationally, of the 147,295 wastes10 reported in
1989, only 11,434 wastes, or 8 percent, were targets of a new waste minimization activity.
Moreover, these wastes comprised only 8.2 million tons, or 4 percent, of the total quantity of
hazardous waste generated. Wastewaters, the largest quantity hazardous wastes, were
infrequently the targets of new waste minimization activities.
Approximately 38 percent of the sites in the manufacturing industries (two-digit SIC codes
20 to 39) engaged in new waste minimization activities compared to the national average of
29 percent Manufacturing sites also reported new waste minimization activities on individual
* Waste minimization data from 19 CBI sites were not included in the analyses.
B Waste minimization refers to source reduction and/or recycling.
10 A site required to submit the 1989 Hazardous Waste Report completed a Form GM if ft generated or shipped any
quantity of RCRA hazardous waste during 1989.
A complete, separate, and independent Form GM was submitted for each RCRA hazardous waste:
• generated on she during 1989 from production processes or service activities;
• shipped off site during 1989 that was received from off site and had not been recycled, blended, or
otherwise treated on she; or,
• residual generated during 1989 from the on-site treatment, disposal, or recycling of wastes.
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Executive Summary
wastes almost twice as frequently as did sites outside that sector (9.5 percent of individual
wastes minimized, versus 5.1 percent).
Of all waste minimization activities reported, 90 percent of them involved source reduction,
compared to only 16 percent that involved recycling (6% involved both source reduction and
recycling). The most common source reduction activities were process modifications and good
operating practices, cited by 34 percent and 33 percent of the sites, respectively.11 The most
common wastes that were subjected to waste minimization (by source reduction or recycling)
during 1989 were ignitable wastes (EPA waste code D001) and solvents (EPA waste codes
F001, F002, F003, F005). The most commonly reported factors limiting the sites from initiating
new waste minimization activities were economic infeasibility (the cost savings in waste
management or production would not recover the capital investment), lack of technical
information, and concerns that product quality would decline. Permitting burdens were cited
infrequently as a reason for not initiating new waste minimization activities.
COMPARISON TO 1987 HAZARDOUS WASTE ACTIVITIES
Quantity Generated and Number of Generators
The quantity of RCRA hazardous waste generated in the United States declined from 238.3
million tons in 1987 to 197.5 million tons in 1989, a reduction of 17 percent. This decrease
was largely the result of shifts in the management of wastewaters from surface impoundments
that were subject to RCRA permitting requirements to tanks that were exempt from those
requirements. The number of large quantity generators reported in 1989 (20,233), was 14
percent higher than that reported in 1987 (17,677). Nearly all the increase in the number of
Examples of process modifications include better control on operating conditions, change from solvents to aqueous
cleaners, and closed-loop recycling. Examples of good operating practices include improved maintenance
scheduling, segregation of hazardous waste from non-hazardous waste, and segregation of recyclable waste from
non-recyclable waste.
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National Biennial RCRA Hazardous Waste Report (Based on 1989 Data)
generators was among sites that generated fewer ;than 13 tons. The number of sites that
reported generating more than 13 tons was about the same in 1987 and 1989.
A comparison of the individual sites reporting as large quantity generators in 1987 and 1989
finds that only 52 percent of the generators in 1989 also reported in 1987. However, the sites
that reported in both years accounted for approximately 98 percent of the total quantity of
waste generated in both 1987 and 1989. Among larger generators (those that generated more
than 100 tons in either year), approximately 84 percent of the sites reporting in 1987 also
reported in 1989. Larger generators also appear to report consistently over the years, while
many of the smaller large quantity generators appear to meet reporting thresholds only once
or in occasional years.
Quantity Managed and Number of TSD Facilities
The quantity of RCRA hazardous waste managed in units subject to RCRA permitting
requirements decreased by 16 percent, from 233.5 million tons in 1987 to 196.5 million tons
in 1989. Most of the decrease resulted not from changes in the quantity of waste produced,
but rather from a change in waste management practices. A number of larger sites that had
managed wastewaters in surface impoundments subject to RCRA permitting requirements
have converted to tank management that is exempt from RCRA permitting requirements. The
number of TSD facilities reporting decreased from 3,308 in 1987 to 3,078 in 1989, a decline
of 7 percent
Hazardous Waste Imports and Exports
Approximately 4 million tons of hazardous waste were shipped to another State for
management in 1989, compared to 3.6 million tons in 1987, an increase of 10 percent.
10
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