2018-05282: Increasing Recycling: Adding Aerosol Cans to the Universal Waste Regulations

Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) is proposing to add hazardous waste aerosol cans to the universal waste program under the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulations. This proposed change, once finalized, would benefit the wide variety of establishments generating and managing hazardous waste aerosol cans, including the retail sector, by providing a clear, protective system for managing discarded aerosol cans. The streamlined universal waste regulations are expected to ease regulatory burdens on retail stores and others that discard hazardous waste aerosol cans; promote the collection and recycling of these cans; and encourage the development of municipal and commercial programs to reduce the quantity of these wastes going to municipal solid waste landfills or combustors.

The agency’s own summary, as published.

What this changes

Amends 7 parts of the Code of Federal Regulations — the standing rules this notice rewrites.

• 40 CFR 260 Hazardous Waste Management System: General
• 40 CFR 261 Identification and Listing of Hazardous Waste
• 40 CFR 264 Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities
• 40 CFR 265 Interim Status Standards for Owners and Operators of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities
• 40 CFR 268 Land Disposal Restrictions
• 40 CFR 270 EPA Administered Permit Programs: the Hazardous Waste Permit Program
• 40 CFR 273 Standards for Universal Waste Management