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Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Orientation Manual

***NOTE***

EPA has finalized a few rules that make changes to the solid and hazardous waste regulations. This document has not been updated yet to reflect these regulatory changes. Check out some of our recent rules:

  • Management Standards for Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals and Amendment to the P075 Listing for Nicotine
  • User Fees for the Electronic Hazardous Waste Manifest System (e-Manifest) and Amendment to Manifest Regulations Final Rule
  • Confidentiality Determinations for Hazardous Waste Export and Import Documents Final Rule
  • Generator Improvements Final Rule
  • Import-Export Revisions Final Rule
  • Coal Ash Final Rule
  • Definition of Solid Waste (DSW) Final Rule
  • 2014 Revisions to the Export Provisions of the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Rule
  • 2014 e-Manifest Final Rule
  • 2013 Conditional Exclusions for Solvent-Contaminated Wipes

This manual provides introductory information on the solid and hazardous waste management programs under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). Designed for EPA and state staff, members of the regulated community, and the general public who wish to better understand RCRA, this document constitutes a review of the RCRA program and is not a substitute for RCRA or its implementing regulations. The manual comprises seven sections plus appendices:

  • Introduction to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act;
  • Managing Solid Waste - RCRA Subtitle D;
  • Managing Hazardous Waste - RCRA Subtitle C;
  • Moving Forward: Materials Management and Resource Recovery; 
  • Miscellaneous Statutory Provisions;
  • RCRA and its Relationship to Other Environmental Statutes; and
  • Public Participation in the RCRA Program.
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Orientation Manual 2014 (pdf) (October 2014, EPA530-F-11-003)
    October 2014 RCRA Orientation Manual
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on March 7, 2022
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