Generation of hazardous waste in the united states

ABSTRACT The Research Triangle Institute conducted comprehensive surveys of the generation and management of hazardous waste for the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. The survey of waste generation found that 747.4 million tons of hazardous waste were generated by 12,478 large quantity generators during 1986; over 90 percent of the waste was wastewater managed on the site where it was generated and 92 percent of the waste was in the form of wastewaters. This paper will describe data collection methods used in the survey and will describe the sources, geographical distribution, and the characteristics of the hazardous wastes generated in 1986. A brief discussion of confidence limits and survey limitations is also included.