  |
|
|
Dangerous or hazardous wastes are wastes that are a danger or hazard to people or the environment. The Department of Ecology (Ecology) regulates the management of dangerous waste through the Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction Program.
The Hazardous Waste and Toxics Reduction (HWTR) Program is a state program that is equivalent to, consistent with, and at least as stringent as the Federal EPA RCRA program Exit Ecology for hazardous wastes.
The HWTR Program affects persons who generate, transport, transfer, recycle, treat, store, or dispose of regulated dangerous wastes, as defined in Chapter 173–303 WAC (the Washington Administrative Code) - The Dangerous Waste Regulations.
A dangerous waste generator is "any person, by site, whose act or process produces dangerous waste or whose act first causes a dangerous waste to become subject to regulation". Dangerous Waste Regulations, WAC 173-303-040 Exit Ecology.
The HWTR Program directly regulates dangerous waste from medium and large quantity generators.
Small quantity generator waste oversight is delegated to local health and public works departments.
The purpose of the HWTR Program and the Dangerous Waste Regulations, as stated in WAC 173-303-010 Exit Ecology, are to achieve the following:
Washington Hazardous Waste Laws and Regulations are available from the State Office of the Code Reviser Exit Ecology web site:
For more information see the following pages in this guidence:
The state Department of Labor and Industries Exit Ecology (L&I), protects workers from dangerous materials exposure. The rules were adopted under authority of the Washington Industrial Safety and Health Act Exit Ecology (WISHA), which is based, in part, on federal OSHA and EPA regulations.
Nearly all employers and employees in Washington are covered by WISHA, including workers for the state, counties and cities. The Department of Labor and Industries administers and enforces WISHA through safety and health rules, called standards.
Horizontal standards are general safety and health standards that all employers must comply with.
Industry-specific standards, also known as vertical standards, apply to specific industries such as construction. There are also administrative record keeping and paperwork requirements that must be followed by all employers.