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Hazardous Waste Disposal Sites

Hazardous waste material must be transported, contained, treated or disposed of with extreme care and according to specific guidelines and procedures. Hazardous waste sites vary according to the types of hazardous material they can process and should be operating under Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations as outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

  1. Land Disposal

    • The most common form of disposing of hazardous waste occurs at land disposal sites such as landfills, waste piles, land treatment units or surface impoundments. The primary goal with land disposal is "to permanently contain the waste and prevent the release of harmful pollutants to the environment," according to the EPA. Most municipalities have land disposal sites in the forms of landfills or otherwise that are capable of disposing of varying types of hazardous waste.

    Storage

    • Storage of hazardous waste refers only to the holding of waste for a temporary period of time before it is "treated, disposed, or stored elsewhere," says the EPA storage fact sheet. Depending on the type of hazardous waste that you will be storing or transporting prior to placing it in an RCRA-compliant facility, waste storage must adhere to hazardous waste regulations. The waste must be placed in containers, tanks, drip pads, containment buildings or waste piles that sufficiently contain it without leaks of any variety.

    Underground Injection Wells

    • Underground injection wells are used primarily for the disposal of liquid hazardous materials. Underground injection wells are also regulated according to the Safe Drinking Water Act due to their potential impact on drinking water resources.

    Types of Disposal Facilities

    • Hazardous waste facilities are organized by the types of hazardous materials they are able to process. Some facilities handle the recycling and disposal of batteries, others specialize in plastics, fluorescent lighting, infectious waste, metals, solvents or substances such as oil and antifreeze. Some facilities are government run while others are private commercial facilities.

    How to Find Disposal Sites

    • Most state government websites in conjunction with their Department of Toxic Substances Control or equivalent department will provide lists of disposal sites according to the materials they are capable of processing. While many municipalities offer some form of hazardous waste disposal, depending on the type of waste, you may have to look to neighboring counties to find a facility appropriate to your hazardous waste disposal needs.

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