What is the principal federal law governing the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste in the US?

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) is the principal federal law that governs the disposal of solid waste and hazardous waste in the United States. Enacted in 1976, RCRA establishes a framework for the management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. It aims to protect human health and the environment by controlling the generation, transportation, treatment, storage, and disposal of waste. Under RCRA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has the authority to establish regulations for waste management practices, ensuring that hazardous waste is handled safely and does not pose a risk to public health or the environment.

In contrast, the Clean Water Act (CWA) primarily focuses on regulating the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters and the quality of surface waters, which is distinct from solid and hazardous waste management. The Sustainable Waste Management Act is not a principal federal law and does not have the broad authority that RCRA does. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (often referred to as CERCLA or Superfund) deals primarily with the cleanup of hazardous waste sites and does not govern the broader aspects of waste disposal as RCRA does. RCRA plays a crucial role in establishing standards that facilities must meet to ensure proper waste management practices are