&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
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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.
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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.
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EXHIBIT 1
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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
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