Office of Small Business - Publications

Do I Have a Special Waste?

Information presented in this publication is intended to provide a general understanding of the statutory and regulatory requirements governing special waste. This information is not intended to replace, limit or expand upon the complete statutory and regulatory requirements found in the Illinois Environmental Protection Act and Title 35 of the Illinois Administrative Code of Regulations.

Illinois regulates many different types of waste, including special waste. Because you generate waste, it is your responsibility to figure out what type of waste you generate. This can be a confusing process! This fact sheet will help you understand what special waste is and help you determine whether you generate a special waste. Special waste needs to be managed and disposed of properly to protect our environment. To understand what kind of special wastes you may generate, ask yourself the following questions in the order presented below, then follow the flowchart below to figure out if you generate a special waste. If you have additional questions, please call the Office of Small Business at 1-888-EPA-1996.

What is a Special Waste?

Special waste includes hazardous waste, potentially infectious medical waste (PIMW), industrial process waste, and pollution control waste.

What is a Hazardous Waste?

A hazardous waste is (1) listed on the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency hazardous waste list which can be obtained from the Office of Small Business or (2) has the characteristic of ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity (determined by generator knowledge or analytical testing in a laboratory).

Generator knowledge and analytical testing of the waste are used to determine if your waste is a hazardous waste. Generator knowledge means the business that generates the waste has sufficient information to determine if the waste is hazardous based on its understanding of the waste generating process and the raw materials used in the process. Analytical testing of a sample of your waste is done by a laboratory.

What is a PIMW?

PIMW is generated in connection with the diagnosis, treatment, or immunization of human beings or animals; medical research; and biological testing. The businesses that typically generate PIMW are hospitals, nursing homes, medical or veterinary clinics, dental offices, clinical or pharmaceutical laboratories, university or research facilities, and other such facilities.

What is an Industrial Process Waste?

An industrial process waste is any liquid, solid, semisolid, or gaseous waste generated when manufacturing a product or performing a service. Examples include cutting oils, paint sludges, equipment cleanings, metallic dust sweepings, used solvents from parts cleaners, and off-specification, contaminated, or recalled wholesale or retail products. The following wastes are not industrial process wastes:

• Uncontaminated packaging materials
• Uncontaminated machinery components
• General household waste
• Landscape waste
• Construction or demolition debris

What is a Pollution Control Waste?

A pollution control waste is generated directly or indirectly when businesses remove contaminants from air, soil, or water. Examples include baghouse dust, landfill waste, scrubber sludge, and chemical spill cleaning material.

If your industrial process waste or pollution control waste is any one of the following, it is a special waste:

• A liquid waste
• An asbestos waste regulated under the Clean Air Act
• A regulated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) waste
• A delisted hazardous waste
• A characteristic hazardous waste treated or stabilized to be nonhazardous
• A waste material generated by shredding recyclable metals

The following questions will help you understand each of these industrial process or pollution control wastes.

What is a Liquid Waste?

Liquid waste is any waste material that is determined to contain "free liquids." Used cutting oil is a typical liquid waste. For sludges or other wastes that you cannot easily determine is liquid, you can use the paint filter test. The test requires pouring the waste through a specific filter to determine if the waste contains "free liquids." For further information about this test, please call the Office of Small Business.

What is an Asbestos Waste Regulated Under the Clean Air Act?

Asbestos waste regulated under the Clean Air Act is (1) any waste that contains commercial asbestos and (2) any asbestos waste generated during demolition or renovation. Examples include insulation, fireproofing materials, and packaging contaminated with commercial asbestos.

What is a Regulated PCB Waste?

PCBs are typically found in old transformers and other electrical equipment. A PCB waste is a waste that contains any monochlorinated or polychlorinated biphenyl or any mixture that contains one or more of them. This includes equipment, solids (including empty containers) and contaminated liquids.

What is a Delisted Hazardous Waste?

A delisted hazardous waste is excluded from the list of hazardous wastes when the Illinois Pollution Control Board grants a petition filed by a business.

What is a Decharacterized Hazardous Waste?

A decharacterized hazardous waste is a hazardous waste that has been treated to make it nonhazardous or the hazardous characteristic, ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, or toxicity, has been removed.

What is an Example of a Waste Generated by Shredding Recyclable Metals?

When autos and trucks are shredded to reclaim metals, a significant amount of other materials are generated such as upholstery and plastics (auto fluff). This material is often contaminated during the recycling process and must be managed as a special waste.

Are There Industrial Process Wastes and Pollution Control Wastes that are not Special Waste?

Yes, in some instances you may certify that your waste is not a special waste by following the procedures on page 4.

Special Waste Determination Process

This flow chart can assist you in determining if you generate a special waste.

Nonspecial Waste Certification

Any industrial process wastes and pollution control wastes that are not hazardous and not liquid may be certified as nonspecial waste in Illinois and may be disposed of with your general refuse. In addition to these wastes, the containers that once held them may also be excluded from the definition of special waste if:

• The container no longer contains a liquid
• All wastes have been removed
• Any residue is less than 1 inch thick
• Any inner liner has been removed and disposed of as special waste

If you determine that the industrial process or pollution control waste that you generate is a "nonspecial waste", you may prepare a nonspecial waste certification. This certification must be made in writing and must be provided when requested by Illinois EPA, the waste transporter, the disposal site, and any one else involved in managing the waste. If you do not make this written certification, the waste is still considered a special waste and must be managed as a special waste.

The information contained in this certification must include (as applicable):

• A description of the process that generated the waste
• How you determined the waste is not hazardous
• How you determined the waste is not a liquid, does not contain PCBs, asbestos, is not formerly hazardous waste rendered nonhazardous, and is not redded recyclable metals
• Any analytical results, or relevant MSDS
• An explanation as to why any analysis was not performed or required

If the process that generates the waste changes or the raw materials change, you must complete a new certification. Certifications must be signed, dated, and kept for at least 3 years after you stop operating the process that generates the certified nonspecial waste. The law provides stiff penalties for false certification.

Examples of Nonspecial Waste Certifications

No specific form is required for nonspecial waste certifications. Some example certifications are provided below.

What Do I Do Next?

Now that you have determined whether you generate a special waste, if you need additional assistance, please call the Office of Small Business at 1-888-EPA-1996 for more information about requirements that may apply to you.