Hazardous Waste Generated and Recycled

This indicator tracks the amount of regulated, recurrent hazardous waste generated (produced) and recycled by certain businesses and facilities in Washington State. It reflects approximately one thousand businesses and organizations that generate more than 2,640 pounds each of hazardous waste per year. The remaining 2,700 annual reporters are either smaller waste generators not required to report waste amounts, or facilities that did not generate hazardous waste, for example transporters.

Hazardous wastes are identified under both federal law and state regulations. They have toxic, corrosive, reactive, flammable, or persistently hazardous properties that make them dangerous or potentially harmful to human health or the environment. They can be in any form - liquids, solids, gases (in containers), or sludge. These wastes can often be reclaimed or recycled, instead of being disposed. A common example is the distillation of a used solvent to make the solvent reusable.

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Recurrent Hazardous Waste Generated & Recycled Data

Recurrent hazardous wastes are generated from the ongoing use of hazardous materials in a production process, a service activity, or routine spills and cleanups.

This indicator shows recurrent generated wastes targeted by pollution prevention efforts. It does not include the following:

One-time wastes from site remediation (usually large scale cleanup of contaminated soil and structures).
Hazardous waste mixed with radioactive waste (from the U.S. Department of Energy at Hanford and other sites).
Wastes reported by businesses that receive and manage hazardous waste generated by others (called TSDs for treatment, storage, and disposal businesses, or recyclers).
Materials reused before becoming wastes, such as parts cleaner solvent that is continually purified in a closed-loop system.

Recurrent hazardous wastes generated in Washington has decreased by approximately 50 percent since 2000. The overall downward trend is due in large part to a variety of waste reduction strategies employed by businesses and other organizations.

This indicator also shows the amount of recurrent generated wastes managed by a recycling method. Ecology classifies four waste management methods as recycling:

Adsorption (contaminant particles are separated from a contaminated liquid or gas for reuse).
Metals recovery.
Solvent recovery.
Other methods of materials recovery.

The total amount of recurrent hazardous waste that is recycled has remained fairly constant over the last few years. However, when compared to the decrease in hazardous waste generation, the percentage recycled has increased substantially, from 16.14 percent in 2000 to 25.75 percent in 2010. The HWTR program has set a target for hazardous waste reduction in Washington State of 80 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels. The state is currently on track to meet that goal in 2020. Currently, there is approximately a 4 percent reduction of hazardous waste every year.

Why should we be concerned about how much hazardous waste is generated in Washington State?

The amount of hazardous waste generated is an indication of risk to human health and the environment from hazardous substances used in Washington. Environmental and human exposures occur throughout the life cycle of a hazardous substance, from use, management, and transportation, to final disposal.

What are the benefits of decreasing generation of hazardous waste and increasing hazardous waste recycling in Washington?

Conserves valuable resources.
Reduces risks to human health and the environment.
Saves money for businesses that find alternatives to hazardous substances.

What are some Beyond Waste actions being taken to decrease generation of hazardous waste and increase hazardous waste recycling in Washington?

Ecology and other organizations are:

Offering sector-based technical help to businesses.
Encouraging "green chemistry" and other product-design solutions.
Providing technical assistance to facilities who are required to develop Pollution Prevention Plans.
Working with Washington businesses to incorporate lean manufacturing techniques into their production processes.
Providing technical assistance to industry on recycling opportunities.
Providing information to generators about facilities that recycle hazardous waste, such as through Ecology's Hazardous Waste Services Directory.

Related Indicators

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Hazardous Waste Generated per dollar state GDP		Business Compliance with Hazardous Waste Laws

Cleaning up Contamination at TSD Facilities

Want more information on hazardous waste generation in Washington?

For more information, contact Gretchen Newman, 360-407-6097.

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Case Study:

Pollution Prevention Successes

Ecology's Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction technical assistance staff help Washington businesses understand pollution prevention (P2) laws and find useful waste reduction strategies.

Over the last twenty years, more than 600 Washington businesses have "graduated" from state pollution prevention planning requirements by significantly reducing the amount of hazardous waste they produce. This saved them tens of millions of dollars and lessened the reporting they need to do. The remaining 600 businesses required to do P2 plans have lowered their hazardous waste totals to half of what they were ten years ago.

Toxics Metals Prevention Program

Pollution Prevention Success Stories

Ecology Services add Value to Businesses