The management of the Nation's hazardous residues--toxic chemical, biological, radioactive, flammable, and explosive wastes--is generally inadequate; numerous case studies demonstrate that public health and welfare are unnecessarily threatened by the uncontrolled discharge of such waste materials into the environment. The conclusions of the study are that (1) a hazardous waste management problem exists and its magnitude is increasing; (2) the technical means to solve the problem exist for most hazardous waste but are costly in comparison with present practices; (3) the legislative and economic incentives for using available technology are not sufficient to cause environmentally adequate treatment/disposal in most cases; (4) the most effective solution at least direct cost to the public is a program for the regulation of hazardous waste treatment/disposal; (5) a private hazardous waste management service industry exists and is capable of expanding under the stimulus of a regulatory program; (6) due to inherent uncertainties, private sector response cannot be definitely prescribed.