EPA Finalizes A Rule Excluding Reusable And Disposable Wipes From Hazardous Waste Regulation

Businesses spend millions of dollars each year disposing of solvent-contaminated rags, towels and other wipes. Much of the high cost stems from the fact that, under existing regulations, wipes contaminated with hazardous substances must be disposed of as hazardous wastes. The EPA has wrestled with this issue since the 1980s, when industry first requested that solvent-contaminated wipes be excluded from hazardous waste regulation. Well, the much awaited exclusion is finally on the books, and the EPA predicts that it will affect more than 90,000 facilities and achieve net savings of between $21 and $28 million per year. The exclusion is set to become effective on January 31, 2014.

The EPA's final rule contains provisions for both reusable and disposable wipes. The rule modifies the definition of solid waste to conditionally exclude reusable solvent-contaminated wipes that are properly cleaned and reused. The rule also modifies the definition of hazardous waste to