Hazardous Waste Generation & Generators

Massachusetts has moved to a pair of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) online tools that make compliance with hazardous waste management regulations easier:

• myRCRAid for obtaining generator identification numbers (EPA IDs), and
• e-Manifest for documenting and tracking shipments electronically.

Using myRCRAid and e-Manifest means less paperwork, faster processing times, and more certainty for you.

Please Note: If you currently use a state-specific generator identification number beginning with “MV” to ship hazardous waste, you will need to obtain a new, properly formatted EPA ID before using e-Manifest. You may do this at no cost through myRCRAid after creating a RCRAInfo account.

Your hazardous waste generator status determines how much waste you may accumulate at your site at one time, and how quickly you need to ship it off-site for recycling or disposal.

Note: The same numerical thresholds apply to both hazardous waste and waste oil. You may register separately and maintain a different generator status for each, depending on the quantities you generate.

See Additional Resources below to learn more about VSQG and SQG facility obligations, including accumulation limits and labeling requirements, and to obtain a current searchable/sortable list of hazardous waste generators in Massachusetts.

Before June 15, 2018, you had to mail a paper form to the Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) to obtain an EPA ID. MassDEP performed electronic data entry from paper submissions, then transferred the records it created to the RCRAInfo national database. This was a time-consuming process.

Now that Massachusetts has moved to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) online application myRCRAid - which allows you to apply for and obtain an ID electronically - the process works like this:

1. Register as a RCRAInfo user (follow the link in Key Actions below).
2. MassDEP approves your electronic signature. If you have questions about this process, see: Important Electronic Signature Agreement (ESA) Details
3. Login at RCRAInfo, access myRCRAid, and apply for a an EPA ID by submitting a Site Identification Form electronically to MassDEP.
4. The agency reviews your application, either approving it or asking you to make corrections and submit it again.
5. Once approved, MassDEP issues your EPA ID through RCRAInfo and you are authorized to proceed with regulated hazardous waste activities.

It takes only minutes to create a RCRAInfo account and apply for an EPA ID via myRCRAid.

MassDEP will generally issue your EPA ID within seven (7) business days if the information you submit is complete and accurate.

See the detailed instructions and the FAQ in Additional Resources below to learn more.

Under state and federal law, a facility that generates hazardous waste bears "cradle-to-grave" responsibility for the waste's creation, handling, transport, treatment and ultimate fate.

All Massachusetts waste generators and treatment facilities that initiate shipments of hazardous waste and/or waste oil must use manifests. Forms need to be completed with appropriate waste codes, including those for wastes regulated by Massachusetts only (e.g. MA01 for waste oil).

You may use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) e-Manifest system to complete, submit, and track manifests electronically. Here is all you need to do:

1. Register as a RCRAInfo user (follow the link in Key Actions below).
2. Wait for MassDEP to approve your electronic signature. 
3. Login at RCRAInfo and access e-Manifest.
4. Work with your transporter to complete and submit your manifest form(s) electronically.
5. Track your hazardous waste shipment(s) online via RCRAInfo.

It takes only minutes to create a RCRAInfo account and between one (1) and seven (7) business days to begin using e-Manifest. See the FAQ in Additional Resources below to learn more.

Important Notes:

• Although you may still use paper manifests, EPA and MassDEP strongly encourage you to use the e-Manifest system because it is an easier and less costly way to comply with the regulations.
• You may still use existing MV plus phone number hazardous waste IDs (e.g. MV6170001111) on paper manifests, but will be unable to register as an e-Manifest user or track your shipments online until they are available on the public viewer after 90 days. MassDEP no longer accepts applications for new MV plus phone number IDs.

All facilities notifying MassDEP that they are small quantity (SQG) or large quantity (LQG) generators of RCRA-listed hazardous wastes receive annual compliance fee invoices from the agency, based on their generator status as of July 1.

A facility wanting to cancel or change its hazardous waste generator status needs to formally notify MassDEP before July 1. Otherwise, it will be liable for the full annual compliance fee applicable to its status as of that date - even if it has stopped all hazardous waste activity at its location.