Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Regulations
- A to Z Index of Hazardous Waste Topics,
- Non-hazardous Secondary Materials Webpage.
- Hazardous Waste Identification Webpage.
- Landfills Webpage.
- RCRA Orientation Manual.
The RCRA regulations are contained in title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) parts 239 through 282. The CFR is a collection of all federal regulations codified and enforced by all federal agencies. Title 40 – Protection of the Environment - contains all of the regulations governing EPA's programs.
In any given state, EPA or the state's hazardous waste regulatory agency enforces hazardous waste laws. EPA encourages states to assume primary responsibility for implementing a hazardous waste program through state adoption, authorization and implementation of the regulations.
On this page:
- Non-hazardous Waste
- Hazardous Waste
- Other RCRA Regulations
Non-hazardous Waste
Title 40 of the CFR parts 239 through 259 contain the regulations for solid waste. The requirements for underground storage tanks, which are also regulated under RCRA, are located in title 40 CFR part 280. A list of all solid waste regulations with links to the regulatory text is provided below:
- Part 239 – Requirements For State Permit Program Determination Of Adequacy.
- Part 240 – Guidelines For The Thermal Processing Of Solid Wastes.
- Part 241 - Solid Wastes Used as Fuels or Ingredients In Combustion Units.
- Part 243 – Guidelines For The Storage And Collection Of Residential, Commercial, And Institutional Solid Waste.
- Part 246 – Source Separation For Materials Recovery Guidelines.
- Part 247 – Comprehensive Procurement Guideline For Products Containing Recovered Materials.
- Part 254 – Prior Notice Of Citizen Suits.
- Part 255 – Identification Of Regions And Agencies For Solid Waste Management.
- Part 256 – Guidelines For Development And Implementation Of State Solid Waste Management Plans.
- Part 257 – Criteria For Classification Of Solid Waste Disposal Facilities And Practices.
- Part 258 – Criteria For Municipal Solid Waste Landfills.
- Part 259 [Reserved].
Hazardous Waste
Additional Resources
- EPA's Hazardous Waste website provides an overview of the cradle-to-grave hazardous waste management system.
- The Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions reports on the actions U.S. EPA plans to issue in the near and long term.
The regulations governing hazardous waste identification, classification, generation, management and disposal are found in title 40 CFR parts 260 through 273.
- Part 260 – Hazardous Waste Management System: General.
- Part 261 – Identification And Listing Of Hazardous Waste.
- Part 262 – Standards Applicable To Generators Of Hazardous Waste.
- Part 263 – Standards Applicable To Transporters Of Hazardous Waste.
- Part 264 – Standards For Owners And Operators Of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities.
- Part 265 – Interim Status Standards For Owners And Operators Of Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facilities.
- Part 266 – Standards For The Management Of Specific Hazardous Wastes And Specific Types Of Hazardous Waste Management Facilities.
- Part 267 – Standards For Owners And Operators Of Hazardous Waste Facilities Operating Under A Standardized Permit.
- Part 268 – Land Disposal Restrictions.
- Part 270 – EPA Administered Permit Programs: The Hazardous Waste Permit Program.
- Part 271 – Requirements For Authorization Of State Hazardous Waste Programs.
- Part 272 – Approved State Hazardous Waste Management Programs.
- Part 273 – Standards For Universal Waste Management.
Other RCRA Regulations
Related Resources
- Learn more about underground storage tanks.
- Check out EPA's website about oil spill prevention and preparedness.
EPA also established regulations for managing used oil and standards for underground storage tanks, which can be found in title 40 CFR parts 279 through 282.
- Part 279 – Standards For The Management Of Used Oil.
- Part 280 – Technical Standards And Corrective Action Requirements For Owners And Operators Of Underground Storage Tanks (UST).
- Part 281 – Approval Of State Underground Storage Tank Programs.
- Part 282 – Approved Underground Storage Tank Programs.
- Parts 283 to 299 [Reserved].
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