ECAR Fact Sheet for Iowa
Hazardous Wastes
The
intent of the hazardous waste program is to provide a cradle-to-grave
management system for hazardous wastes to ensure that these wastes
are not mismanaged in a way that will impact human health or the
environment.
The
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Region 7 office administers
and enforces federal hazardous waste management requirements (40
CFR Parts 260-279) in Iowa. In addition, Iowa has implemented state-specific
hazardous waste management requirements in connection with fees
and used oil collection centers.
To
comply with Iowa’s hazardous waste requirements, you must follow
the steps below:
- Determine whether any hazardous waste is generated.
- Determine your facility’s generator status.
- Determine which regulations must be complied with depending
upon your facility’s generator status, and comply with those requirements.
Regulations
Definition
of Solid Waste. In order for a waste to be considered a hazardous waste, it must
first meet the definition of solid waste. The term “solid waste” can be somewhat misleading. The word
“solid” does not refer to the physical state of the waste. Solid
waste can be a solid, liquid, or contained gas. Under the hazardous
waste rules, a solid waste is any material that will no longer be
used for its original intended purpose, or a material that must
be reclaimed before reuse. You will need to look at each of the
waste streams generated (e.g., antifreeze, used oil, solvents, etc.)
and determine whether it is a solid waste. Note that not all solid
wastes are considered hazardous wastes. Certain solid wastes, such
as used oil destined for recycling, are excluded from the hazardous
waste rules.
Hazardous
Waste Determination. It
is the responsibility of all solid waste generators to determine
whether their waste is hazardous. The procedure for this is called
a “hazardous waste determination.” You may assume a waste
is hazardous based on its characteristics or on past laboratory
analysis provided there is no change in how the waste was generated.
In some cases, you may use your knowledge of a waste to make a determination
as to whether the waste is a characteristic hazardous waste. If you use such information
to classify a waste as nonhazardous, you must maintain documentation
supporting this determination. If you are not sure, have the waste
tested. Keep in mind that a non-hazardous waste may become hazardous
if contaminated or mixed with other materials and re-testing would
be needed.
Wastes
can be hazardous if they are either “listed” or “characteristic”,
or if they are a mixture of a listed hazardous waste and other wastes.
A. Listed wastes. Waste is considered hazardous if it is found on any one
of four “lists”. These “lists” are called the “F”, “K”, “P” and
“U” lists.
B. Characteristic wastes. Once a facility has reviewed the F, K, P and U lists,
and determined whether generated wastes are found on any of the
lists, a determination will need to be made to see if these wastes
are “characteristic” hazardous wastes. There are four different
characteristics: ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity.
- IGNITABLE - combustible under certain conditions
- CORROSIVE - highly acidic, basic and/or capable of corroding
metal
- REACTIVE - unstable under normal conditions and capable
of creating explosions and/or toxic fumes, gases, and vapors when
mixed with water
- TOXICITY - wastes contain dangerous amounts of metals,
pesticides, herbicides, and organic chemicals that could be released
to the groundwater.
C. Mixtures of listed wastes and other wastes. A mixture containing a non-hazardous
solid waste and any amount of a listed hazardous waste is considered
a hazardous waste. For example, if a pint of spent solvent such
a toluene or benzene (an F005 listed hazardous waste) is mixed with
a 55 gallon drum of waste antifreeze, the entire mixture (e.g.,
55 gallons plus one pint) is considered a hazardous waste (as opposed
to only one pint being a hazardous waste had the two wastes not
been mixed). Hence, it is very important to keep wastes segregated.
Not only is it better for the environment, but it will reduce disposal
costs (it’s more expensive to dispose of hazardous waste than it
is solid waste).
D. Universal Wastes. Universal wastes have fewer waste management rules
that apply to them. For more information about the generation, storage,
transportation, disposal and recycling of universal wastes, refer
to the federal universal waste requirements.
Generator
Status.
If you manage hazardous waste, you must determine your generator
status. Your facility will fall under one of these three classifications.
- Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator
(CESQG). You
are considered a CESQG in a calendar month if you generate no
more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of hazardous waste per month.
- Small Quantity Generator (SQG). You are considered an SQG if
you generate greater than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) but less
than 1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) of hazardous waste in a calendar
month.
- Large Quantity
Generator (LQG). You are considered an LQG if you generate
1,000 kilograms (2,200 pounds) or more of hazardous waste in a
calendar month. You also are considered an LQG if you generate
during a calendar month, or accumulate at any time, more than
one kilogram of acutely hazardous waste, or more than a total
of 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of any residue, contaminated soil,
waste, or debris from cleaning up a spill of any acutely hazardous
waste onto land or into water.
Complying
with Hazardous Waste Rules.
Once you have determined whether you generate hazardous waste and
your generator status, you can determine which requirements apply
to you.
Generator
Fees.
- If you
are a LQG with an EPA ID number, you must pay a fee of $250
by April 15 of each year for the prior calendar year. If you
are a SQG or a CESQG with an EPA ID number, you must pay an
annual fee of $25.
- You
are required to pay $10 for each ton of hazardous waste transported
off-site. Water content in the waste is not counted in the
transport fee if the waste is being transported to another generator-owned
facility for recycling or treatment.
- You
are required to pay $40 for each ton of hazardous waste placed,
deposited, dumped, or disposed of in Iowa land disposal facilities.
- You
must pay $2 per ton of hazardous waste destroyed or treated
at your site to make the waste nonhazardous. Resulting residues
are also subject to applicable fees.
Generator
Waste Fee Exemptions. Fee
exemptions exist for wastes that are recycled, become nonhazardous,
are retrieved from hazardous waste sites, are being transported
through Iowa from out-of-state, or wastewater going to a treatment
facility as regulated under state law.
Recordkeeping
Requirements. Generators
are required to submit an annual “Form 179”
containing hazardous waste management fees for the previous calendar
year. This form must be kept on file for at least three years.
Links
to the Regulations. Use
the following links to view the regulations pertaining to hazardous
waste management.
Iowa Hazardous Waste
Fee Requirements
Federal EPA Standards Applicable
to Generators of Hazardous Waste
Contacts
- For more information, contact the Region 7 Environmental
Protection Agency at 913-551-7020, or the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at 515-281-8941.
- To
report a spill or leak, call the Iowa hotline at 515-281-8694
as soon as possible but not later than 6 hours after the onset
or discovery of the spill or leak. If the release involves EPA-regulated
material and the amount released is above EPA reportable quantities,
it must also be reported to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802
within 15 minutes.
- To report an environmental incident or complaint, contact
the Iowa DNR.
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