How much hazardous waste a site generates determines what requirements apply. In general, more Hazardous Waste requires more stringent regulatory oversight. See the following steps below to help maintain your compliance.
Step 1: Determine
To understand which regulations apply to you as a hazardous waste generator, the EPA created three categories of generators separated by volume of hazardous waste produced in a month. These categories are Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG), Small Quantity Generator (SQG), and Large Quantity Generator (LQG). Using the table below, determine which category of generator you fall under:
Step 2: Notify
After determining your generator size category, the next step is to notify LDEQ of your hazardous waste!
VSQG’s, SQG’s, and LQG’s located in Louisiana must fill out and submit a HW-1 Form, also known as the Notification of Hazardous Waste Activity Form, to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ). This form is designed to inform the LDEQ about hazardous waste-related activities at a facility, such as:
- hazardous waste generation
- changes of site information
- renotification by generators
- facility closures
Next, you may be assigned an EPA ID number. This is a twelve digit number designed to track hazardous waste activities. This EPA ID number is assigned to the property rather than the owner, and remains the same even if the owner of the property changes. If your business moves to a different property, notifying the EPA to receive an updated EPA ID number is required.
You may need a separate RCRA permit in addition to the HW-1 form. RCRA permits are required for hazardous waste generators and facilities that currently treat, store or dispose of hazardous wastes. Some hazardous waste generators are NOT required to obtain a RCRA permit, such as:
- businesses that generate hazardous waste and then store for short periods of time before transporting the waste off site
- hazardous waste transporters
- businesses working to contain hazardous waste during an immediate response to an emergency.
Step 3: Comply
Different hazardous waste generator sizes have different requirements. Use the following table to help better understand how follow regulations:
