&EPA United States Solid Waste and Environmental Protection Emergency Response Agency (5305) EPA530-S-94-002 May 1994 RCRA Waste Minimization National Plan Summary DRAFT Recycled/Recyclable Printed on paper that contains at least 50% post-consumer recycled fiber ------- ------- SUMMARY OF DRAFT RCRA HAZARDOUS WASTE MINIMIZATION NATIONAL PLAN In launching the Draft RCRA Hazardous Waste Minimization National Plan, EPA will be focusing on a number of specific goals, including reducing the amount and toxicity of hazardous waste that is generated, particularly when such reductions lead to benefits in more than one environmental media. EPA will achieve these goals through a variety of voluntary and regulatory programs. EPA's overall goal of this plan, in the near term, is to achieve, nationally, a _ % reduction (through source reduction and/or recycling) of highly toxic and persistent hazardous waste that are currently combusted by the year 1997. Over the longer- term, EPA's target is to achieve, nationally, an overall reduction of _ % (again, through source reduction and/or recycling) of ^11 RCRA hazardous waste by the year 2000. [EPA will be taking comments on what the numeric value of these reduction goals should be. EPA believes that a stated goal (or goals) is necessary and will serve as a focal point for all who have a role to play to adjust their level of commitment.] EPA is releasing the Waste Minimization Plan in draft form in order to seek further input from the various stakeholders before finalizing the Plan. Specific components of the Draft Plan are: o scope of the Plan - The Draft Plan has both a short- term; and longer-term phase. In the short-term, EPA will address the source reduction and environmentally sound recycling of those hazardous wastes that have the potential to be combusted in either boilers and industrial furnaces (BIFs) , or hazardous waste incinerators. A longer-term effort will encompass all RCRA hazardous wastes, taking a more comprehensive approach to understanding how waste is generated and managed in this country and the role waste minimization can play as a principal "mode of management." o Setting Priorities Waste Minimization - EPA is focusing, initially, on those industrial processes that generate combustible hazardous wastes that contain toxic metals and/or halogens and will focus on a subset of such wastes that, when generated, have a "multi-media hazard and exposure potential." EPA believes that this approach will promote source reduction of the most pervasive, toxic, persistent, and/or bioaccumulative wastes. 17 — waste minimization, the term employed in the RCRA statute, is defined to include both source reduction and certain types of environmentally sound recycling. Our highest priority is to achieve reductions through source reduction. However, if tnis i=» not achievable, then environmentally sound recycling is also an Agency priority. ------- o Me-chanisms for Effecting Waste Minimization - Hazardous waste generators are quite diverse. They span a wide 'range of industrial sectors, are of varying size and technological sophistication, and have/have not demonstrated an intent to prevent pollution. Rather than adopting one approach for all generators, EPA will need to rely on different mechanisms that may be effective in achieving the goal of preventing pollution, ranging from regulatory to non- regulatory. Some specific mechanisms that EPA is considering include: a voluntary challenge program, use of permits and enforcement settlements to encourage pollution prevention, outreach, and training. In addition, technical assistance is also an important mechanism and includes that provided by EPA's Office of Research and Development. EPA Headquarters will work closely with Regions and States to develop those mechanisms that would most effectively help achieve reductions in these wastes and- foster source reduction and environmentally sound recycling. Many States and Regions have already implemented some of the possible mechanisms, and will play a key role in helping to broaden the application of such mechanisms to other States and Regions. 2—Implementation of Mechanisms - EPA intends to serve primarily as an initiator and facilitator of this Draft Waste Minimization Plan by setting general goals, reducing barriers, and better enabling States, industry, and the public to achieve •pollution prevention. EPA seeks comments from all stakeholders on their views of the roles that States, EPA, industry, and the public should play in implementation of this strategy. Given the diverse and proactive stance that many States and industries have already taken, EPA recognizes that this Draft Plan will need to be flexible so that both States and industry can continue their positive efforts. This Plan will build on existing State requirements and States will play a key role in any meaningful implementation. At the same time, EPA intends for this Plan to encourage those states and industries that have not already begun to explore avenues for achieving source reduction and environmentally sound recycling to do so. ------- EXHIBIT 1 . A ESTABLISH: GOALS BASED ON RISK AND DEFINE MEASURES OP SUCCESS IDENTIFY INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES AND SECTORS GENERATING THE WASTESTREAMS OF CONCERN ARRAY MECHANISMS TO ACHIEVE WASTE MINIMIZATION Regulatory vs. non-regulatory Consider: o other EPA initiatives that are relevant to OSW'sj stated goals o which option(s) will result in the greatest environmental benefits o resource constraints for effective outreach/implementation o our sphere of influence IMPLEMENTATION Employ regulatory development, guidance, permitting, voluntary challenge programs, and coordinate with Regions, States, technical assistance centers to both implement and develop measures of success. MEASURE PROGRESS BEING MADE ------- ------- ------- ------- |