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Waste Designation Decision Matrix - Nonhazardous Industrial Wastes

This is the waste designation decision matrix provided by the Small Business and Local Government Assistance Program to aid businesses in deciding how certain wastes must be handled.

This matrix is provided as an assistance tool. It cannot be used as a substitute for following applicable city, state, and federal laws.

You have now completed the waste determination process per RCRA.

Does the waste meet nonhazardous industrial waste classifications per 30 TAC 335.505/506/508 ?

Yes
Your waste appears to be a Class 1 Industrial Nonhazardous Waste.

No
Your waste appears to be Class 2 Waste.
If it is inert, non-liquid, and essentially insoluble then you may choose to evaluate for Class 3 Waste characterization.

Test your waste determination knowledge.

Return to the beginning of the matrix.

Please review the information below regarding classification of industrial waste.

Industrial Waste Classification Process

Industrial Class 1 waste was defined in the Texas Solid Waste Disposal act in 1969. This waste is, by definition, nonhazardous. The way Texas' industrial waste classification works, the default classification is Class 1. Unfortunately, Industrial Class 1 waste is more expensive to dispose of and there are fewer landfills that have authorization to accept this waste (specifically, the landfill must have a cell dedicated to accept Class 1 waste).

However, avoiding the classification of "Nonhazardous Industrial Class 1" is not all that difficult. Generally, the most common type of Class 1 waste contains PCBs, is a solid corrosive, or a state-regulated ignitable. These categories are often discernable by applying your own process knowledge of how the waste was generated. There are more types of Class 1 wastes identified in Rule 335.505 and Rule 335.508 , so be certain to review that and other relevant rules before determining that your waste is NOT a Class 1 waste.

If your industrial waste is not a Class 1, it is probably a "Class 2." This classification applies to nearly everything else except the most benign of waste streams. Most landfills can accept Class 2 waste.

If you choose to demonstrate that the waste "is inert, non-liquid and essentially insoluble," you can evaluate your waste for "Class 3," which is reserved for the most harmless of all industrial wastes. Choosing to continue to lower your classification can significantly lower your costs of disposal but can increase your workload.