Issues and Options * Volume I Waste Minimization Issues and Options Volume I Submitted by: Versar, Inc. 6850 Versar Center P. 0.Box 15119 Springfield, Virginia 22 15 1 and Jacobs Engineering Group 251 S. Lake Avenue Pasadena, California 9 1 10 I Submitted to: Elaine Eby Office of Solid Waste Waste Treatment Branch U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20460 In Response to: EPA Contract No. 68-01-7053 Work Assignment No. 17 October I, 1986 2 DISCLAiP4ER This documert nas been reviewed md Spprovec for puolic3t:on by the Gfflce of Solld Waste, Cff,ce of Solid Waste and Emergency QesDonse. U.S. Environmental Protection Agercy. 4ppro~aidoes lot Signify that :he contents necessarilj refiect the views and policies of the Environmental Prcrection Agzncy, nor does the mention of trade lames or commercial PiOduC:S constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. iii '3 EXECUTIL E SLihlblARRY ............................................... PREF ACE ......................................................... 1 1 . DEFINITION AND SCOPE OF WaSTE MIhIMIZATION ................. 1.1 Sackground sid Scope of tie "Was:e Minimization" De finitior ............................................ 1-3 1.2 Backzround and Scope of :ne !sue of Burning for Energy as a Recycling Activity ........................ 1-4 2.. WASTE GENERATION PROFILE ................................... 2-1 2.1 Csuses of Wasre Generation ............................ 2-1 2.2 Indusrry-SDecific Wasre Geqeration Profile ............ 2-6 2.2.1 Characteristic Waste Stream Generation and Recycling ..................................... 2-16 2.2.2 Generation and Management Profile by Waste Category ...................................... 2-18 2.3 Process - Specific Waste Generation Profile ........... 2-29 2.a Summary ............................................... 2-36 3 . SOURCE REDUCT!ON PROFILE ................................... 4-1 3.1 Sourze Control Methodology ............................ 3-2 3.1.1 Ivpbt Material Alteration ..................... 3-2 3.l.2 'echnoioSy Modifications ...................... 3-5 3.!.3 FrcceaurallInstitutional Modifications ........ 3-11 3.2 CGrrevt and Future Extent of Waste Minimization through Scurce Control ................................ 3-!3 3.3 Product Substitution .................................. 3-12 3.11 Sdmmary of Findings and Obserdations .................. 3-28 b . '%ASTE RECYCLING PROFILE .................................... ir .1 Characterization of Recycling Practices and Technologies .......................................... 4-1 b.2 Current Ex;ent of Recycling ........................... a-3 11.2.1 1ndbs:ry-Specific Profile ..................... (1-3 L.2.2 Wss;e-Soecifiz Profile ........................ u- 7 2.2.3 Recjclirg Technology Pyoiile .................. 1-22 1.3 3f'site 2ec yclirg ..................................... k-&3 4.3.1 Commercia!- Fiecycling Faciiities ............... 4.. 3 i.3.2 Wasre Lxzhanges ............................... .. 2 j c- ...- C, - i.2 .uLdre cxient of 2ecycling ............................ 1-35 -.j 3um mary ............................................... 3-61 V TABLE OF CCINTENTS (continued) 5 . FACTORS THAT PROMOTE OR INHIBIT ;VAST€ h~lINIr~lIZ.ATIOr\J......... 5-1 5.1 Economic Aspects and Technological Innovation ......... 5-1 5.1.1 A Firm's Decision to Invest ................... 5-2 5.!.2 Investment in Innovative Technolcgy ........... 5-5 5.1.3 Investment in Waste Minimization .............. 5.. 5.2 Liability Pspects ..................................... 5.. 5.2.! Inability to Obtain Insurance ................. 5-!! 5.2.2 Cleanup Costs ................................. 5.. 5 5.2.3 Liability as an Incentive for Opsite and Offsite Recycling ............................. 5-22 5.3 Organizational and Attitudinai Aspects ................ 5-25 5.3. I The Organization of EnvirDnmental Progiams within Firms .................................. S-ib 5.3.2 Company Policy-Making and Policy Implementation Processes ...................... 5-29 5.3.3 Industry Perception of RCRA ................... 5-31 5.3.4 Origins of Opposition to Change ............... 5-33 5.4 Consumer Atiitudes and Public Relations Issues ........ 5-36 5.5 Regulatory Aspects .................................... 5-38 5.5.1 Waste Minimization Certifications ............. 5-39 5.5.2 EPA's Definition of Solid Waste ............... 5-21 5.5.3 Land Disposal Restrictions .................... 5-1 5.5.4 Technological and Other Requirements for Nem and Existing TSD Facilities ................... 5-56 5.5.5 Siting ........................................ 5-58 5.5.6 Permitting Issues ............................. 5-42 5.5.7 Delisting Issues .............................. 5-65 5.6 Summary ............................................... 5-66 6 . INDUSTRY EFFORTS TOWARDS WASTE MINIMIZATION ................ 6-1 6.1 Description of Information Base ....................... 6- 1 6.2 Observed Trends in Industrial waste Mirimization Efforts ............................................... 6-2 6.3 Capitsl Outlays. Annual Savings. and Fayback Period ... 6-4 6.1 Summary ............................................... 6-6 7 . GOVERNMENT AND NONINDUSTRY EFFORTS TO!NARD \NPSTE MI I M I Z A TIO N ............................................... 7- I .. 7.1 Ccngressional Initiatives ............................. ..-1 7.1.1 Congressional Budget Office ................... .' .i 7.1.2 Officeof Technology Assessment ............... 7-2 vi 7.2 National Research CJuncil ............................. -:- 3 7.3 Federai Agencies .................... ........, ........ - -4 7.3.1 Environmental Protection Agency ............... -4 ?.3.2 Department of Energy .......................... :-a 7.3.3 Department of Defense ......................... 7-3 7.3.11 Bureau of Mines ............................... 7-16 ?.3.5 Tennessee Valley Juttrority .................... 7-1 7 c 7.4 State ar.d Local tfforts ............................... 7-19 ?.4.1 Regulat3ry Programs ........................... 7-19 7.0.2 Fee and Tax Incentives ........................ 7-25 7.4.3 Loan and Bond Assistance ...................... 7-33 7.4.0 Grant Programs ................................ 7-36 7.4.5 Information Programs .......................... 7-3? 7.u.6 Award Programs ................................ 7-42 7.5 huongoverr\.rental, Nunindustrial fff ons .-...-...__.. -_ 7-43 7.5.1 League of Women Vcrers ........................ 7-43 7.5.2 Pollution Probe Foundation .................... 7 -&& 7.5.3 INFORM ........................................ 7-45 7.5.0 Envirormental Defense Fund .................... 7-46 7.5.5 German Marshall Fund ....................... ... 7-47 7.6 Summary ............................................... 7-47 8. PDTENTIAL STRATEGiES/OPTIONS FOR FLIRTHERING THE GOAL CC WASTE P4INIMIZATION ...................................... 8- I 7: d.. 1den:ificatitn and Crganizaricn of Options ............ E- 1 E.2 Fotential Criteria for Deciding among 0pt:zns ......... 2-7 3.3 ReliancP Cn Authorities and Requirements 3eflned by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984 ... 8-3 3.L The Scope of Goplicability: Modification of Definition of Solid Waste and Associated Regulations .. 8-!0 9.b. 1 Clarification of Relationship of Treatment and Reclamation ............................... 8-i I 8.4.2 Clarification of Relationship cf Ingredienr to =eedstock .................................. 8-i 2 8.4.3 Greater Use of Concept of Equivaience in Determining Which Recycled Materials Should ee Subject to Regulation ...................... E-1 3 3.5 Perf3rmance Standarcs ................................. 5-15 6.5.1 Fzrformance Standaras Limitin; ii9iu;ne and'cr Toxicity 07 ',tdas:es for Generators ............. 5-15 3.5.2 'N35:2 Sener2ticn Xlarketabie =)e:mit Frogram .... 8-19 S.5.3 Frc*it.ir or ?estr:c; Generation of Soeci'ic \?435:2s ................................... * .... 8-22 vii ?aqe Ns. 8.5.b Use of Effluent Guidelines ta Increase Source Reduction and Qecycling (CWA) ................. a-23 8.5.5 Establishment of Toxicity Levels for Delisting Petitions ........................... 3-24 9.6 Management Practices .................................. 3-25 8.6. I Require Information from Generators on Material Inputs, Uses, and Discharges ......... a-25 8.6.2 Use of Permits to Limit Amount of Waste That Can Be Lapd Disposed, Incinerated, or Otherwise Disposed of or Treated per Generator. 8-28 8.6.3 Requiie Segregated Waste Streams for Potentially Recyclable Wastes ................. 8-30 8.6.4 Require Technical Audits to Identify Waste Reduction Potential ........................... 8-33 8.6.5 Ban the Landfilling, Treatment, or Inriwrarion of Potentially Recyclable Wastes .............. 8-3b 8.7 Economic Incentives ................................... 8-35 8.7.1 Development of Information and Technology Transfer Network .............................. 8-35 8.7.2 Establish Preferred Procurement Practices ..... a-ao 8.7.3 Deveiop Improved Waste Marketing Capaaility for Hazardous Wastes of the Military Services ............................. ;........ 8-c 8.7.4 Non-Tax Financial Incenti des .................. 8--Lla E.7.5 Tax Incentives ................................ 8-49 8.7.6 Waste-End tax ................................. 8-5 2 8.7.7 Rating Outstanding Recyciing Facility Performance ................................... 3-55 8.7.8 Reduced Liability for Generators Using Special1y Per mi t ted Rec yclers ............ .f .... 8-5 7 8.7.9 Recycling Substances Act .....................