Hazardous Waste Manifest System
EPA’s hazardous waste manifest system is designed to track hazardous waste from the time it leaves the generator facility where it was produced, until it reaches the off-site waste management facility that will store, treat, or dispose of the hazardous waste.
On this page:
- Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
- Obtaining manifest forms
- State requirements
- Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest (e-Manifest) System
- Becoming a registered manifest printer
Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest
The key component of this tracking system is the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest, a form required by EPA and the U.S. Department of Transportation for all generators who transport, or offer for transport, hazardous waste for off-site treatment, recycling, storage or disposal. When completed, the form contains information on the type and quantity of the waste being transported, instructions for handling the waste, and signature lines for all parties involved in the disposal process. Each party that handles the waste signs the manifest and retains a copy for themselves. This ensures critical accountability in the transportation and disposal processes. Once the waste reaches its destination, the receiving facility returns a signed copy of the manifest to the generator, confirming that the waste has been received by the designated facility.
- Sample Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest Form.
- Sample Continuation Sheet.
- Instructions for completing the hazardous waste manifest.
- Hazardous waste report management method codes (see page 114 of this PDF) (137 pp, 1.39 MB).
Obtaining Manifest Forms
Handlers of hazardous waste (generators, or treatment, storage or disposal facilities) may obtain the Unified Hazardous Waste Manifest forms from any source that has been approved by EPA Manifest Registry to print and distribute the form. Check out the approved registered printers list.
State Requirements
A number of states have additional requirements regarding the use of the Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest. Some states require state-specific waste codes in addition to the federal hazardous waste codes to be entered on the new manifest. Hazardous waste generators should contact their state programs to determine if they have additional state requirements when transporting, treating, storing or disposing of hazardous waste. Find state manifest websites and contacts.
Hazardous Waste Electronic Manifest (e-Manifest) System
EPA launched the hazardous waste e-Manifest system nationwide on June 30, 2018. Generators, transporters, and receiving facilities have the option to create and submit manifests electronically. These manifest users may continue to use paper manifests after June 30, 2018; however, use of e-Manifest is highly encouraged by EPA. Learn more about the e-Manifest system development.
Becoming a Registered Manifest Printer
EPA established procedures in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) section 262.21 to assist organizations in applying to the EPA Registry to print the hazardous waste manifest. These requirements are further explained in the instructions for preparing application materials for submittal to EPA's Manifest Registry (Note: This document is currently being updated to reflect the new five-copy form.)
- An applicant must propose a unique three-letter suffix that will be used to pre-print a unique manifest tracking number (MTN) on each manifest. Applicants should consult the table of approved registered printers to identify MTN suffixes that have already been approved. An applicant can propose any three-letter suffix that has not been approved.
- Applications can be sent by overnight delivery service or courier to the following address:
Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery
United States Environment Protection Agency
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW
William Jefferson Clinton Building
Room 1144A
Washington, DC 20004
- The manifest tracking number spreadsheet tool (xls) helps approved registered printers keep track of manifest tracking numbers they assign.