Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

Under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) the EPA has theauthority to control hazardous waste. This includes the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal. RCRA also enables EPA to address environmental problems that could result from underground tanks storing petroleum and other hazardous substances.

The solid waste program encourages states to develop comprehensive plans to manage nonhazardous industrial solid waste and municipal solid waste, sets criteria for municipal solid waste landfills and other solid waste disposal facilities, and prohibits the open dumping of solid waste.

The hazardous waste program establishes a system for controlling hazardous waste.

The underground storage tank (UST) program regulates underground storage tanks containing hazardous substances and petroleum products.

The SW-846

The EPA publication SW-846, entitled Test Methods for Evaluating Solid Waste, Physical/Chemical Methods, is a compendium of analytical and sampling methods that have been approved for use in complying with the RCRA regulations. SW-846 functions primarily as a guidance document setting forth acceptable, although not required, methods for the regulated and regulatory communities to use in responding to RCRA-related sampling and analysis requirements.

SW846 Methods for the Analysis of Multiple Metals in Solid Waste

SW846 Methods for Anions in Solid Waste

SW846 Methods for Organics in Solid Waste

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