Hazardous Waste

The Hazardous Waste Management Section (HWMS) of Utah oversees the hazardous waste management practices of the hazardous waste generators in the State of Utah. This includes corrective action, characterization, storage, treatment, and disposal. The HWMS is available to field a wide variety of questions regarding hazardous waste management, also, the section offers an on-site hazardous waste program audit to any requesting facility, generating less than 2,200 pounds of hazardous waste per month. Any generator of hazardous waste is required by law to adhere to the applicable regulations found in the Utah Code Annotated, R-315 parts 1 through 14, R315-50, R315-101 and 102 or Chapter 40 of the United States Code of Federal Regulations. The Section administers enforcement actions for facilities that have violations associated with these rules.

The Hazardous Waste Management Section has developed an outreach program for small quantity generators of hazardous waste. This program has been very successful in informing and getting compliance from a number of small quantity generators. Last year approximately 400 companies were visited using this program. A checklist is used to evaluate the company's hazardous waste management practices and to provide a schedule for the company to return to compliance. The checklist and the EPA publication, Understanding the Hazardous Waste Rules
A Handbook for Small Businesses is generally very effective in helping small quantity generators understand and comply with the Rules.

In conjunction with our section's outreach program, Scott Hopkins is available to do basic hazardous waste training sessions (about 2 hours) for businesses, as well as presentations on hazardous waste management and pollution prevention for schools (all levels) and community groups. Scott can be reached at 801-538-6788 or shopkins@deq.state.ut.us