Why is regulating hazardous waste difficult

This means less need for hazardous waste landfills and incinerators, as well as a decrease in energy used for those systems, which leads to less pollution. Recycling hazardous waste can increase production efficiency and reduce costs associated with purchasing raw materials and waste management. By recycling hazardous materials, a business may be able to eliminate the generation of hazardous waste and avoid RCRA regulatory requirements altogether.

A business may also benefit from the positive or "green" image associated with hazardous waste recycling efforts For example, a company who values strong corporate stewardship can increase goodwill with shareholders and consumers and further distinguish itself from its competitors.

EPA and states collect and report data on hazardous waste recycling as part of the National Biennial Report , which provides data on the generation, management, and final disposition of hazardous wastes regulated under RCRA. In , over 1. The report also breaks this information down by state. It is important to note that the National Biennial Report only captures regulated hazardous waste recycling. Hazardous waste that is excluded from regulation because of recycling exemptions or exclusions are not counted in the report.

Additionally, it only captures information from those who report to the Biennial Report e. The level of regulation that applies to recycled materials depends on the material and the manner in which a material is recycled. Hazardous waste is generated from many sources, ranging from industrial manufacturing process wastes to batteries and may come in many forms, including liquids, solids gases, and sludges.

EPA developed a regulatory definition and process that identifies specific substances known to be hazardous and provides objective criteria for including other materials in the regulated hazardous waste universe. This identification process can be very complex, so EPA encourages generators of wastes to approach the issue using the series of questions described below:.

Click on a step in the hazardous waste identification process for more information. In order for a material to be classified as a hazardous waste, it must first be a solid waste. Therefore, the first step in the hazardous waste identification process is determining if a material is a solid waste.

The second step in this process examines whether or not the waste is specifically excluded from regulation as a solid or hazardous waste. Once a generator determines that their waste meets the definition of a solid waste, they investigate whether or not the waste is a listed or characteristic hazardous waste. Select a question below to learn more about each step in the hazardous waste identification process.

State regulatory requirements for generators may be more stringent than those in the federal program. Be sure to check your state's policies. In the mid-twentieth century, solid waste management issues rose to new heights of public concern in many areas of the United States because of increasing solid waste generation, shrinking disposal capacity, rising disposal costs, and public opposition to the siting of new disposal facilities.

These solid waste management challenges continue today, as many communities are struggling to develop cost-effective, environmentally protective solutions. The growing amount of waste generated has made it increasingly important for solid waste management officials to develop strategies to manage wastes safely and cost effectively. RCRA set up a framework for the proper management of hazardous waste.

From this authority, EPA established a comprehensive regulatory program to ensure that hazardous waste is managed safely from "cradle to grave" meaning from the time it is created, while it is transported, treated, and stored, and until it is disposed:.

Under RCRA, hazardous waste generators are the first link in the hazardous waste management system. For this reason, an integrated approach should be adopted to design programs, and agencies to lead and coordinate a wide range of prevention initiatives to reduce the potential environmental and public health impacts [ 16 ].

These should include development of programs focusing on a number of strategic objectives in order to achieve the goal of prevention which will include the prevention of radioactive and hazardous wastes. This suggests that to reduce the public health and environmental impacts of radioactive and hazardous wastes, a range of regulations and innovative processes must be developed to control the content of these potentially hazardous and harmful substances.

The negative environmental and public health impacts caused by hazardous wastes as well as the use of complex equipment, infrastructure, sophisticated controls, and dangerous processes have encouraged developing countries to develop innovative processes to treat these wastes.

One of these innovative processes is phytoremediation. Phytoremediation involves the planting of trees to prevent and repair environment from hazardous wastes, including restoration of degraded soil, and conservation. It is used in China, India, Pakistan, etc. However, scientific research has found that phytoremediation has limitation of long lasting and of low efficiency [ 28 , 29 ].

Therefore, there is an urgent need for long lasting and high efficiency processes for the treatment of hazardous wastes. The best practices in managing radioactive and hazardous waste include the following: Adopting alternative strategies e. Treatment with or without heat recovery. For instance, in Chile, used oil and spend solvents are used as raw materials for alternative fuels production [ 16 ].

Ensuring that other government departments and public bodies fulfill their roles and responsibilities identified in hazardous waste management. Prevention: engaging with priority sectors on hazardous waste prevention waste activities through cleaner technologies and better compliance with regulation.

Devising future new policies on the management of hazardous waste by also taking into consideration the generation rates of these types of wastes and potential savings from recovery of these wastes [ 30 ]. This book chapter discusses hazardous waste management in developing countries, with emphasis on industrial hazardous waste, medical waste, and household hazardous waste.

It identifies the current situation on hazardous waste management. In developing countries there is lack of information on the quantities of hazardous waste generated, lack of capacity and awareness; low incentives or penalties; lack of clear roles and responsibilities for stakeholders; limited infrastructure; and inadequate institutional framework.

Also, inadequate collection, treatment and disposal system; and the lackadaisical response by the government makes it difficult for the local authorities to identify targets to be achieved either annually or strategically on a long term basis for solid waste management. Waste minimization through source reduction, reuse, and recycling has to be effectively implemented to decrease the amount of hazardous waste generated and disposed of. For this achievement, there is the need for a drastic reform of the current regulations in the developing countries.

The environmentally sound management of hazardous wastes is becoming a major concern in developing countries due to the diversity of the waste stream and toxic material within it, as well as the negative environmental and public health impacts caused.

Hence, several practical recommendations are suggested which include the following: Creation of public awareness of the potential of recycling hazardous wastes. Monitoring and evaluation of hazardous wastes management systems as well a reporting programmes. Development of decision support for identifying appropriate technologies for treatment of hazardous wastes.

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this book chapter. Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.

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Downloaded: Abstract This book chapter discusses the management of hazardous waste in developing countries, with particular emphasis on industrial hazardous waste, medical waste, and household hazardous waste. Keywords hazardous waste developing countries recovery recycling disposal. Introduction Wastes are classified as being hazardous when they display one or more radioactive or hazardous properties, including explosive, oxidizing, flammable, irritant, harmful, toxic, carcinogenic, as well as harmful effects on the environment and human health [ 1 ].

Table 1. Scientific, engineering and organizational challenges in developing countries. Industrial hazardous waste Industrial hazardous waste is defined as waste generated from industrial sectors and pose immediate danger to the environment and the public [ 17 ]. Household hazardous waste In the home, it has been pointed out that there are several jobs which generate hazardous waste because of the product used may contain hazardous substances.

Table 2. Hazardous wastes and country practice. Conflict of interests The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this book chapter. More Print chapter. How to cite and reference Link to this chapter Copy to clipboard.