State the ways in which a waste can fall under the manifest program. Based on the type of waste, how must the generators proceed?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

A waste may be considered hazardous and, thus, fall under the manifest program in one of three ways. First, it may be listed by the EPA as a hazardous waste. Second, the generator may choose to designate the waste as hazardous. Finally, according to the RCRA, a hazardous waste may be "garbage, refuse, or sludge or any other waste material that has any one of the four defining characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity." Once a waste is designated as hazardous, it falls under RCRA's manifest program. Under this program, generators of hazardous waste must maintain records called manifests. These manifests list the amount and type of waste produced, how it is to be transported, and how it will ultimately be disposed of. Some wastes cannot be disposed of in landfills at all. Others must receive chemical or biological treatment to reduce toxicity or to stabilize them before they can be deposited in landfills. If the waste is transported to a landfill, both the transporter and the owner of the disposal site must certify their respective sections of the manifest and return it to the creator of the waste.