The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is marking the 50th anniversary of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act with Common Sense RCRA Reform.
Agency officials envision modernizing the nation’s waste-management program, including through permitting reform; use of emerging technologies and novel solutions for compliance with the law; acceleration of Superfund category and lower level cleanups to ensure human health and environmental protection; and recovery of materials and critical minerals that have been trapped in waste streams.
Efforts driving material recovery are led by a waste designation measure, noted under Successes here, facilitating greater availability of tire derived fuel – a top target of cement producers’ alternative fuel adoption strategies.
“The EPA is proud to mark the 50th anniversary of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act by refocusing our efforts on ensuring protections for Americans while boosting the economy by streamlining and modernizing regulations,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin. “We’re ensuring RCRA is modern, efficient and protective.”
RCRA became law in October 1976. It set standards for responsible solid waste management and establishing safeguards for hazardous waste – from generation to transportation, treatment, storage and disposal. Prior to it RCRA passage, companies dumped an estimated 30 million to 35 million tons of hazardous waste directly onto the ground every year. Without the law’s strict regulations, toxic chemicals, heavy metals and spent solvents would have continued to seep into the ground, contaminating critical water supplies.
The present RCRA waste management program monitors billions of tons of solid, industrial and hazardous waste resulting from the manufacturing and use of goods throughout the economy and oversees almost 4,000 site cleanups annually.
