Abstract |
The passage of the 1984 Amendments to the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act marked a strong change in the United States' policies concerning hazardous wastes. In order to carry out the intention of the Amendments to reduce the generation of hazardous waste in the U.S., the EPA has developed a multi-faceted hazardous waste minimization program. The program, which includes information gathering, research, development and demonstration, support of state waste minimization programs, technology transfer activities, waste minimization assessments, and extensive communications with universities, states, and the general public, is discussed. The program described is focused on minimizing the generation of hazardous waste. However, the Agency believes that the waste minimization concept can and should be applied to all releases to air, water, and groundwater. |