1. Managing Hazardous Solid Waste and Waste Sites
Chapter 17
Managing Hazardous Solid Waste and Waste Sites
© 2004 Thomson Learning/South-Western

2. Characterizing the Hazardous Waste Problem
Hazardous solid wastes – any unwanted materials or refuse capable of posing a substantial threat to health or the ecology
Waste stream – a series of events starting with waste generation and including transportation, storage, treatment, and disposal of solid wastes

3. Characterizing the Hazardous Waste Problem
Magnitude and Source of the Problem
Extent of the Problem
The problem of hazardous waste is worldwide, and there is no question that there are serious risks in ignoring it
Sources of Hazardous Waste
Negative externalities

4. Evolution of U.S. Solid Waste Policy
Federal Recognition of the Solid Waste Problem
Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) of 1965
Resource Recovery Act of 1970

5. Evolution of U.S. Solid Waste Policy
Developing Policy To Control Risks of Hazardous Wastes
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976
“cradle-to-grave” management system – a command-and-control approach to regulating hazardous solid wastes through every stage of the waste stream
Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984

6. Evolution of U.S. Solid Waste Policy
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 1980
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Information (CERCLIS) – a national inventory of hazardous waste site data
National Priorities List (NPL)
Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) of 1986
Feedstock taxes – taxes levied on raw materials used as productive inputs
Recent Policy and Brownfields
Brownfields – abandoned or underutilized industrial sites where redevelopment is discouraged by actual or perceived contamination

7. Controlling Hazardous Wastes: RCRA
Source reduction – preventive strategies to reduce the quantity of any hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant released to the environment at the point of generation
Waste management – control strategies to reduce the quantity and toxicity of hazardous wastes at every stage of the waste stream

8. Controlling Hazardous Wastes: RCRA
The “Cradle-to-Grave” Management Approach
Identification of Hazardous Wastes
Characteristic wastes – hazardous wastes identified as those exhibiting certain characteristics that imply a substantial risk
Listed wastes – hazardous wastes that have been preidentified by government as having met specific criteria

9. Controlling Hazardous Wastes: RCRA
Figure 17.2 U.S. Characteristic and Listed Wastes in 1999

10. Controlling Hazardous Wastes: RCRA
The National Manifest System for Tracking Wastes
Manifest – a document used to identify hazardous waste materials and all parties responsible for its movement from generation to disposal
The Permit System
Permitting system – a control approach that authorizes the activities of TSDFs according to predefined standards

11. Controlling Hazardous Wastes: RCRA
Standards
General regulatory standards – apply to all types of TSDFs and control generic functions like inspections, emergency plans, and participation in the manifest program
Technical regulatory standards – outline procedures and equipment requirements for various types of waste facilities

12. Controlling Hazardous Wastes: RCRA
Moving Toward Pollution Prevention
Several references in the 1984 Amendments speak to the policy shift away from land disposal and toward preventive solutions

13. Analysis of U.S. Hazardous Waste Policy
Risk-Based Uniform Rules of Identification
Risk Based Criteria
Law requires that hazardous waste be identified according to characteristics and criteria that are risk based
Applying Criteria Uniformly
Identifying criteria are applied uniformly
Allocatively inefficient

14. Analysis of U.S. Hazardous Waste Policy
Benefit-Based Uniform Standards
Benefit Based
Lack of cost considerations is problematic
Uniform Standards
Offers states no flexibility in how they administer RCRA’s hazardous waste program

15. Analysis of U.S. Hazardous Waste Policy
Failures of the Manifest System
Benefit Based
Limited in Scope
High Compliance Costs

16. Analysis of U.S. Hazardous Waste Policy
Market Implications of the 1984 Land Restrictions
Pre-1984 Market Equilibrium
Post-1984 Market Equilibrium

17. Analysis of U.S. Hazardous Waste Policy
Figure 17.3 Impact of Land Restrictions Under the RCRA 1984 Amendments

18. Analysis of U.S. Hazardous Waste Policy
Market Instruments in Hazardous Waste Control Policy
Pollution charge – a fee that varies with the amount of pollutants released
Waste-end charge – a fee implemented at the time of disposal based on the quantity of waste generated

19. Managing Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites: CERCLA
Response and Cleanup
Superfund cleanup process – a series of steps used to determine and implement the appropriate response to threats posed by the release of a hazardous substance
Removal Actions – official responses to a hazardous substance release aimed at restoring immediate control
Remedial Actions – official responses to a hazardous substance release aimed at achieving a more permanent solution
National Priorities List (NPL) – a classification of Hazardous waste sites posing the greatest threat to health and the ecology

20. Managing Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites: CERCLA
Figure 17.4 Superfund Cleanup Process

21. Managing Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Sites: CERCLA
Compensation, Liability, and Enforcement
Potentially responsible parties (PRPs) – any current or former owner or operator of a hazardous waste facility and all those involved in the disposal, treatment, or transport of hazardous substances to a contaminated site
Emergency Planning
Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) – a national database that gives information about hazardous substances released into the environment

22. An Analysis of a Superfund
Assessing Superfund’s Performance
Based on the NPL data, Superfund’s Remedial Program has moved at a snail’s pace by most accounts

23. An Analysis of a Superfund
What’s Wrong with Superfund?
Information Problems
EPA had to start with very little data on the extent of the problem
Insufficient federal control, direction, and financial support
Lack of Incentives
Strict liability – the legal standard that identifies individuals as responsible for damages even if negligence is not proven
Joint and several liability – the legal standard that identifies a single party as responsible for all damages even if that party’s contribution to the damages is minimal