Transporting waste seems like an easy and straightforward task. You take it from one place and dump it in another. But did you know that there are laws that regulate how we dispose of various types of waste? There are rules for disposing of hazardous waste, solid waste, liquid waste, and just about any kind of waste you can think of. So before you load your dumpster and have it hauled away, take a look at these legal considerations for hauling waste.
Waste Must go to an SWA Facility
Maryland’s Department of the Environment (MDE) regulates Solid Waste Acceptance (SWA) facilities. They do this to ensure the proper disposal of solid waste in an environmentally acceptable manner while protecting public health and the environment. Every kind of waste that is hauled away in Maryland must go to one of these regulated SWA facilities:
- Municipal landfills
- Rubble landfills
- Non-hazardous landfills
- Land clearing debris landfills
- Waste-to-energy landfills
- Municipal incinerators
- Special medical waste incinerators
- Special medical waste processing facilities
- Solid waste processing facilities
- Solid waste transfer stations
There are County-Specific Waste Hauling Laws
While Maryland may have some state-wide laws for hauling waste, each county has its own set of rules and regulations too. Transfer station recycling and trash drop-off hours vary from county to county, and recycling requirements vary too. One example of a county-specific law is Montgomery County requiring trash and recyclables to be covered while being transported. If the load isn’t covered while being transported, it could result in a verbal warning, a written Notice of Violation, or a citation.
Waste Should Only Be Hauled by a Licensed Business
Every waste removal business must be licensed. That means its needs to have a tax identification number and a formal legal structure. If it doesn’t have any of these things, a junk removal business can get into serious trouble. So if you’re looking for a reputable business to haul away your waste, be sure to ask if they are licensed, insured, and have all the necessary qualifications.
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Governs Waste Disposal
The RCRA is a combination of the first federal solid waste statutes and all subsequent amendments. It’s used as a framework for a national system of solid waste management. Non-hazardous waste, which is the most common kind of waste being hauled away, is regulated by Subtitle D of RCRA. If you have questions about what to do with your solid waste or want to know specific laws that govern your solid waste, the EPA has detailed information about the RCRA. You can click here to access it.
Take the Guesswork Out of Waste Disposal
Ready to stop guessing about what you can and can’t do with your waste? Let LCI Recycling handle it for you! As a Maryland roll-off dumpster company, it’s our job to know all the rules and regulations that govern waste disposal. Give us a call today at (301) 953-2493 to discuss your options and to rent a roll-off dumpster for your project.
