Annually, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) publishes a report that outlines the nations capacity to properly manage hazardous wastes generated in the United States, listed state by state.
All our friends who are "RCRA nerds" will find this report interesting, lots of good information in here regarding the various treatment and management methods available for hazardous waste in the US.
The USEPA's 2024 assessment focuses on the nation’s hazardous waste capacity for energy recovery, incineration, and landfilling at commercial facilities because such facilities are often costly, difficult to permit, and are essential for managing much of the nation’s hazardous waste. In recent years, several companies have chosen to shut down onsite and captive waste management operations, so the commercial hazardous waste management industry is integral to many manufacturing and service sectors that rely on the ability of the commercial hazardous waste management sector to properly treat and dispose of wastes generated when producing products and providing important services here in the U.S.
The EPA has updated the national assessment of capacity for the treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes. Based on the analyses presented in this report, the agency has determined that adequate national capacity is available for the treatment and disposal of hazardous waste expected to be generated for the next 25 years (i.e., through December 31, 2049). Based on this conclusion, any state entering into a State Superfund Contract or remedial response Cooperative Agreement between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2029, may provide an assurance of adequate hazardous waste treatment or disposal capacity as specified under CERCLA 104(c)(9) by referencing this report.
Although the EPA believes there is adequate availability of national capacity at present, there are not large amounts of excess capacity and especially incineration capacity is currently limited. However, two new units are in the RCRA permitting process and expected to be operational in 2025. States and regional groupings of states should continue hazardous waste management planning activities and waste minimization efforts to ensure that adequate capacity continues to exist into the future.
Click here to access the full USEPA "National Hazardous Waste Capacity Assessment Report" for 2024.
