RCRA – The first 30 years of hazardous waste regulation

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was passed by the US Congress in 1976; the law charged the Environmental Protection Agency with developing regulations to control the disposal of hazardous wastes from “cradle to grave”. These RCRA regulations went into effect on November 19, 1980. The ensuing 30 years have seen dramatic changes in how waste is managed both at the generator's site and in terms of ultimate disposal. This paper will look at those changes and grades the overall progress that has been made to reduce improper disposal of hazardous chemical wastes.