Other RCRA Handlers: HW Transporters; Transfer Facilities; Used Oil Generators, Transporters, Burners and Processers; e-Waste Facilities; Household Hazardous Waste; Solar Panel Generators 

Hazardous Waste Transporters

Hazardous waste transporters are individuals or entities that move hazardous waste from one site to another by highway, rail, water, or air. This includes transporting hazardous waste from a generator's site to a facility that can recycle, treat, store, or dispose of the waste. Please note, in Virginia, a hazardous waste transporter is no longer required to have a hazardous waste transporter permit. Here is a Summary of Hazardous Waste Transporter requirements .

Hazardous Waste Transfer Facilities

A transfer facility means any transportation-related facility, including loading docks, parking areas, storage areas and other similar areas where shipments of hazardous waste or hazardous secondary materials are held during the normal course of transportation. Hazardous wastes may be kept at a transfer facility for up to 10 days without requiring a hazardous waste storage permit. Transfer facilities do not require an EPA Identification number. A transporter may keep hazardous waste at more than one transfer facility during its transportation as needed; however, the HW still must arrive at its destination TSD within 45 days or less.

Used Oil Generators, Transporters, and Burners/ Processors

Used oil is any oil that has been refined from crude oil or any synthetic oil that is used, and as a result of such use, is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. For requirements related to used oil, see Used Oil Generators, Transporters, and Burners/Processors.

Electronics Waste (e-Waste) and Hazardous Waste Issues

Waste electronic equipment, or e-waste, has started to receive much attention. With the rapidly changing environment of electronics technology, many systems become obsolete within a few years or even a few months. The rate of generation of these wastes is increasing.

Household Hazardous Waste

Here is a summary of the regulatory status of household hazardous waste .

Solar Panel Generators 

It is a waste generator’s responsibility to determine if their solid waste is a listed or characteristic hazardous waste, either through analysis or through generator knowledge of the waste. There are numerous types and designs of solar panels in circulation, making a one-size-fits-all hazardous waste determination difficult.  Solar panels can be hazardous waste when discarded if a representative sample of the waste contains heavy metals, such as arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead or selenium, at concentrations above the toxicity characteristic.  The solar panel manufacturer may be able to assist the generator with information relevant to the hazardous waste determination and recycling options.

If solar panels are dismantled, sorted, and each component is managed separately, any components that meet the definition of hazardous waste must be managed in accordance with the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, and sent to a RCRA recycling facility or permitted RCRA Treatment, Storage, and/or Disposal (TSD) facility.** Any components that meet the definition of Universal Waste, such as batteries, can be managed in accordance with the Universal Waste requirements. Glass, copper wire and aluminum framing from the solar panel, if found to be non-hazardous, can be taken to a solid waste landfill or recycling center for reclamation.

Solar panels generated by households are exempt from the Virginia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (VHWMR) per 40 CFR §261.4(b)(1). Homeowners should contact their locality or trash hauler directly to determine whether solar panels are accepted for disposal or if any recycling opportunities exist.

For more information, see Solar Panel Frequently Asked Questions

More Information can also be found on EPA's Solar Panel webpage: https://www.epa.gov/hw/end-life-solar-panels-regulations-and-management

EPA's Frequently Asked Questions can be found at: https://www.epa.gov/hw/solar-panel-frequent-questions

Please note, the transfer-based exclusion referenced under the question, "Do generators need to make hazardous waste determination on solar panels that they recycle or send off-site for recycling?"  has not been adopted by Virginia DEQ. This exclusion is not applicable in Virginia.