WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency modified its hazardous waste management regulations under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The modifications will exclude solvent-contaminated wipes from the hazardous waste regulations, as long as businesses clean or dispose of wipes properly.
The decision was made based on the EPA’s final risk analysis, published in 2009, which concluded wipes possessing certain hazardous solvents do not pose significant risk to the environment or human health if properly managed. Many of these wipes are used with solvents for cleaning in thousands of facilities across the country, including auto repair shops, the EPA noted.
“Today’s rule uses the latest science to provide a regulatory framework for managing solvent-contaminated wipes that is appropriate to the level of risk posed by these materials,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “I’ve heard directly from stakeholders about the benefits of this rule and the need to finalize it. The rule reduces costs for thousands of businesses, many of which are small businesses, while maintaining protection of human health and the environment.”
The new regulation only excludes wipes contaminated with solvents listed as hazardous wastes under RCRA that are properly cleaned or disposed of. In order to be excluded, solvent-contaminated wipes must be managed in closed, labeled containers and cannot contain free liquids when sent for cleaning or disposal. Facilities that create solvent-contaminated wipes must comply with recordkeeping requirements and may not accumulate wipes for more than 180 days.
