Lesson Two: Regulations and Solid Waste Management

Objective:

• Introduce the federal and state regulations that are pertinent to the management of solid waste

Goals:

• Identify the federal regulation(s) that pertain to solid waste management
• Identify the Georgia State regulations that pertain to solid waste management
• Identify what wastes are solid wastes
• Identify how the regulations charaacterize a solid waste as hazardous or non-hazardous.

Assignments:

• Skim: State of Georgia Rules for Solid Waste Management (PDF file)
  • This is a good example of how the rules you will work with as an environmental engineer read.
• Read: Textbook: Worrell & Vesilind, Solid Waste Engineering, 2^nd edition, Legislation and Regulations (pp. 6-8)
• Read: Textbook: Worrell & Vesilind, Solid Waste Engineering, 2^nd edition, , Flow Control (pp. 345-346)
• Read: Textbook: Worrell & Vesilind, Solid Waste Engineering, 2^nd edition, , Role of the Solid Waste Engineer (pp. 357-358)
• Blackboard Quiz: Regulations

LAWS and REGULATIONS

The American legislative system is based on common law. In common law, laws are made based on court rulings. So, the law is developed and evolves as it needs to based on court rulings. This does create a significant weakness for the law in that it cannot act pre-emptively. Therefore, the government (federal, state, or local) may pass laws to provide legal guidelines or regulations prior to a situation arriving in a court room. When the government determines that a law is required it is developed as shown below.

For a more entertaining description of this process, check out Schoolhouse Rock!'s 'I'm Just a Bill' on You Tube.

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FEDERAL REGULATIONS

 

For Environmental Engineers, this provides information on what the Federal government requirements are.  State regulatory requirements have to be at least as stringent as the Federal requirements.  In many cases, States have simply adopted the Federal requirements.

 

A Little History

• Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899
  • Often cited as the oldest U.S. Federal environmental protection law - was it really about the environment?
• Timeline of major U.S. environmental and occupational health regulations (1947-2016)
  • Federal solid waste related regulations were passed in 1965, 1969, 1976, 1980, 1986
  • 1970 - US EPA created
• Review: Textbook: Worrell & Vesilind, Solid Waste Engineering, 2nd edition, A Tale of Two Barge (pp. 1xii-xvi).

 

Review: The RCRA Regulations ( Title 40 CFR Parts 240-299)

• Chapter I(Roman Numeral), Subchapter I(letter), Part 258 pertains to MSW Landfills.
• FIND and take a quick look at several of the headings under Part 258

Read: RCRA Orientation Manual (PDF file) *

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RCRA Solid Waste Definition:
According to the EPA regulations, solid waste means any garbage, or refuse, sludge from a wastewater treatment plant, water supply treatment plant, or air pollution control facility and other discarded material, including solid, liquid, semi-solid, or contained gaseous material resulting from industrial, commercial, mining, and agricultural operations, and from community activities.

Practical Definition of Solid Waste:
Solid waste generated by a community

Is this a solid waste? (flowchart, PDF file)

 

WHAT ABOUT HAZARDOUS WASTES?

RCRA §1004(5) definition:

A solid waste, or combination of solid waste, which because of its quantity, concentration, or physical, chemical, or infectious characteristics may (a) cause, or significantly contribute to, an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible, illness; or (b) pose a substantial present or potential hazard to human health or the environment when improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed of, or otherwise managed.

Practical Definition of a hazardous waste:

To be regulated under RCRA as a hazardous waste, a waste must first be a solid waste as defined by RCRA.

A waste is a RCRA hazardous was if it meets the solid waste stipulation, it is not specifically excluded from regulation under RCRA, and it is either:

1. A waste with a CHARACTERISTIC property that poses a sufficient threat to deserve regulation as hazardous. The four (4) characteristics that identify a waste as hazardous are:
   1. Ignitability (code D001): flashpoint <140 °F, can spontaneously combust and sustain combustion, is an oxidizer
   2. Corrosivity (code D002): pH greater than or equal to 12.5 or less than or equal to 2 or the ability to corrode steel in an EPA-approved test
   3. Reactivity (code D003): can explode or violently react when exposed to water or under normal
      handling conditions, can create toxic fumes or gases when exposed to water or under
      common handling conditions, meets the criteria for classification as an explosive under Department of
      Transportation rules.
   4. Toxicity (codes D004 to D043): leachate from the sample obtained using the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) contains any of 39 different toxic chemicals above specified regulatory levels.
2. A LISTED RCRA hazardous waste (These are wastes from various industrial processes, wastes from specific sectors of industry, or wastes in the form of specific chemical formulations.)
   • F list — wastes from certain common industrial or manufacturing processes. Because the processes producing these wastes can occur in different sectors of industry, the F list wastes are known as wastes from nonspecific sources.
   • K list — wastestreams from certain specific industries. K list wastes are known as wastes from specific sources.
   • P list and U list — pure or commercial grade formulations of certain specific unused chemicals.
3. A DECLARED RCRA hazardous waste (These are wastes that have been declared to be hazardous by the generator.)

 

What are some RCRA Subtitle D Wastes (nonhazardous wastes)?

• Municipal Solid Wastes (MSW)
• Household hazardous wastes
• Municipal sludge - accumulated solids, residues, and precipitates generated as a result of waste treatment or processing, including wastewater treatment, water supply treatment, or operation of an air pollution control facility, and mixed liquor and solids pumped from septic tanks, grease traps, privies, or similar
• Nonhazardous industrial wastes - Solid waste generated by manufacturing or industrial processes that is not a hazardous waste regulated under Subtitle-C. Such waste may include but is not limited to, wastes resulting from the following manufacturing activities: electric power generation, fertilizer/agricultural chemicals, food and related products/by-products, inorganic chemicals, iron and steel manufacturing, leather products, nonferrous metals, organic chemicals, plastic and resin manufacturing, pulp and paper
• Municipal combustion ash
• Small quantity generators' hazardous waste
• Construction/demolition debris- building materials, packaging, and rubble resulting from the construction, remodeling, repair, and demolition operations on pavements, houses, commercial buildings, etc. bricks, concrete, soil, rock, lumber, road spoils, rebar, etc.
• Agricultural waste - resulting from activities such as planting and harvesting crops, production of milk, slaughter of animals, and the operation of feedlots
• Oil and gas wastes
• Mining wastes

municipal solid waste (non-hazardous, subtitle-D wastes).

• Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act of 1990 as ammended through 1995
  • Part of the Official Code of Georgia Annoted, Volume 10, Title 12, Article 2, Part 1, Conservation and Natural Resources
  • This is available on-line. Take a quick look at it: OCGA 12-8-20 (PDF file)
• Georgia Solid Waste Management Plan of 1992 and updated in 1997
  • Set goals and agendas for the management of solid waste in Georgia
  • Developed by the Georgia Department of Community Affairs, the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and the Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.
• State of Georgia Rules for Solid Waste Management (PDF file)
  • Primary source of regulatory information for solid waste professionals in Georgia
  • This rule is enforced by the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
  • The rule addresses storage, collection, transportation, separation, processing, recycling and disposal of Solid Waste (SW)
  • Require review of design, permit construction, op and closure of SW management facilities
  • Require proper transport, disposal, storage, and treatment of Hazardous Waste (HW)
  • Promulgate rules addressing design/operation/training for SW composting, recycling, incinerator (WTE) ash disposal, biohazardous wastes, etc.