Fact Sheet
EPA530-F-09-003

EPA Announces Reorganization and Name Change for the Office of Solid
Waste (OSW);  OSW Becomes the Office of Resource Conservation and
Recovery and Streamlines Its Operations

Action

Effective January 18, 2009, the Office of Solid Waste (OSW) is reorganized and has changed its
name to the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR).  The name change reflects
the breadth of the responsibilities/authorities that Congress provided to EPA under the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the primary authorizing statute. The ORCR has three
divisions, which consolidate the operations of the six divisions under the old OSW structure.
This reorganization will create a more efficient structure, consistent with current program
priorities and resource levels, which will  enable EPA to better serve the needs of the public and
its key stakeholders over the next 5-10 years.  EPA has increased focus on resource conservation
and materials management; the emphasis on this important aspect of the RCRA program is
expected to continue while maintaining a strong waste management regulatory and
implementation program.

This reorganization also:

• consolidates the four major areas of the Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) under one
division;

• combines data collection and data analysis activities thus streamlining operations to better
coordinate EPA's efforts to analyze and present the benefits of its program; and

• consolidates waste-to-energy activities in one division and branch.

The three divisions in the new organization are:  Materials Recovery and Waste Management
Division; Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division; and, Program Implementation and
Information Division.
For More Information
For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/basicinfo.htm

-------