Handling and disposing of waste in Pennsylvania can be confusing because there are four categories of waste with different regulations:
A waste is hazardous if it could pose a danger to human health and the environment after being discarded, if it is listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or if it has certain characteristics such as ignitability, toxicity, corrosivity or reactivity.
In Pennsylvania, residual waste is industrial, mining and agricultural waste that is not considered to be hazardous or municipal waste
Universal wastes are specific types of hazardous wastes that do not have to meet all of the hazardous waste regulations.
Examples include some batteries, pesticides, lamps, thermostats and other mercury devices.
Municipal waste is garbage, refuse, industrial lunchroom or office waste and other material resulting from operation of residential, municipal, commercial or institutional establishments and from community activities that is not residual or hazardous waste.
The PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is currently revising Pennsylvania's waste regulations. The proposed changes may have a significant impact on your business operations including permit requirements and fees, landfill disposal bans and record-keeping and reporting requirements.
For the full article, click here.
For a full set of the regulations, visit DEP’s Solid Waste Advisory Committee website here.