How To Dispose of Hazardous Waste--A Serious Question That Needs To Be Resolved

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 was enacted to regulate management of hazardous wastes which pose a threat to human health and the environment. The development of environmentally sound treatment and disposal facilities is essential to this purpose. Adequate capacity is not available to handle the increasing volumes of waste being generated, and public opposition is seriously hindering development of new disposal facilities. Even existing environmentally safe facilities are being jeopardized at a time when the volumes of waste are increasing. How to obtain needed disposal capacity and make sure the funds will be available to correct problems which may occur after site closure are formidable issues for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).