Final Rule Promotes Metals Recovery

By encouraging metals recovery from hazardous wastewater treatment sludge, a new Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) final rule will help the metal finishing industry meet voluntary waste-reduction goals as part of its National Metal Finishing Strategic Goals Program (SGP). The SGP is a stewardship program that grew out of EPA's Common Sense Initiative (CSI). The new rule allows large quantity generators to accumulate sludge on-site for 180 days (or 270 days, as applicable) if the waste is going for recycling to recover the metals. This rule addresses a barrier to metals recovery and recycling that was identified by CSI. To take advantage of the longer accumulation period, metal finishing facilities must meet certain conditions. The longer accumulation time will mean that generators can accumulate increased amounts of wastes and will be able to send larger shipments of the waste off-site for metals recovery less often, thereby reducing transportation costs associated with recycling and making it a more attractive waste management option. The rule was signed March 1 and will be published in the Federal Register soon. For further information about the rule, visit: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/gener/f006acum.htm or call the RCRA/Superfund Hotline at 703-424-9346 or 703- 412-9810.SOURCE: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency