The Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) is one of the most important sets of regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of which businesses should be aware. RCRA regulations on hazardous waste management not only protect the environment and human health, but understanding and following them also protects companies from incurring heavy EPA violation fines, lawsuits, and criminal prosecution.
380 million gallons: that is the number of gallons of used oil recycled across the U.S. in a given year. Recycling used oil promises many benefits for the economy, the environment, and your company’s bottom line. Re-refining used oil uses approximately 33 percent of the energy it takes to refine crude oil to lubricant quality. While it takes 42 gallons of crude oil to produce 2.5 quarts of high-quality lubricating oil, that number drops to a mere one gallon of used oil to produce the same amount of new lubricating oil.
E-waste (electronic waste) possesses both potential value and harm for companies that wish to dispose of their obsolete, broken, or irreparable electronic devices. Companies may be able to resell their E-waste, and many states offer donation programs that benefit schools and nonprofits for tax breaks for reusable electronics. But if your electronics cannot be reused, or if reuse is not an option for your company because of data security, recycling is a good option that can increase your business’s good reputation and improve the environment while saving you money.
Safe transportation services start with skilled drivers. But what sets drivers apart as the most highly qualified? And how can generators be sure they have selected the most reliable transporter to get the job done right given their “cradle-to-grave” liability?
Because of a generator’s “cradle-to-grave” liability, choosing a transporter is an extremely important – and equally daunting – task. But choosing a transporter for your hazardous waste wisely may save you thousands of dollars in fees and ensure you maintain a positive business reputation. We covered tips 1-5 in our previous post, “Top 10 Tips for Selecting Your Hazardous Waste Transporter: Part I”.
In a previous post, How to Select a Treatment Storage and Disposal Facility (TSDF) we discussed how the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) holds generators liable for safely generating, transporting, storing and disposing of their waste from “cradle-to-grave.” Generators are responsible for any mishandling that occurs with their waste – even if the violation occurs after it is transported away from their facility.
Some business owners mistakenly believe that their generated waste is no longer their responsibility once it has been transported away from their facility.
This post is continued from a previous post, “Managing Universal Waste in Wisconsin Part I: Regulations, Best Practices and Recycling.” Read it here.
Batteries, pesticides, lamps and devices containing mercury: for many businesses, these specific types of hazardous waste, classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as “universal waste,” may be among the only hazardous wastes they generate.
Perhaps you serve as your company’s Environmental, Health and Safety manager or plant manager. It is becoming increasingly common for CEOs to set sustainability goals, and if you have not faced this scenario yet, chances are you will soon enough.