Waste Management and Remediation Services Industry Terminology

Anaerobic Digestion (AD)

A biological process that breaks down organic waste without oxygen to produce biogas (methane and CO2) and digestate. Used for food waste, biosolids, and manure to recover energy and nutrients.

- The city is evaluating AD versus composting for organics diversion. - Our AD facility upgrades biogas to RNG for pipeline injection. - Contamination in feedstock lowers AD gas yields.

Asbestos Abatement

The controlled removal, encapsulation, or enclosure of asbestos-containing materials (ACM) to prevent fiber release and exposure. Regulated under OSHA, EPA NESHAP, and state programs.

- The demolition project requires asbestos abatement before C&D removal. - Air clearance samples must pass prior to re-occupancy. - Only licensed contractors can perform ACM removal under state rules.

ASTM E1527 Phase I ESA

A standardized environmental due diligence assessment to identify Recognized Environmental Conditions (RECs) at a property, typically for real estate transactions. Involves records review, site reconnaissance, and interviews without sampling.

- Lender required an ASTM E1527-21 Phase I ESA before closing. - The report identified a REC related to former USTs. - No further action was recommended beyond a Phase I ESA.

Basel Convention

An international treaty controlling transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal, aiming to prevent illegal dumping and ensure environmentally sound management.

- Exports of hazardous e-waste must align with the Basel Convention. - Brokers verify OECD controls for transboundary shipments. - The policy team tracks Basel plastic amendments affecting recyclables.

Bioremediation

Use of microorganisms, plants, or enzymes to degrade or detoxify contaminants in soil or groundwater, either in situ or ex situ.

- We selected bioremediation to treat petroleum-impacted soils. - Bioaugmentation improved degradation of chlorinated solvents. - Nutrient addition accelerated intrinsic biodegradation.

Brownfield Redevelopment

Revitalization of underused or contaminated properties through assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment, often supported by public incentives and liability protections.

- The city leveraged EPA Brownfields grants for site assessment. - Cleanup liability protections enabled brownfield reuse. - Tax increment financing supported brownfield remediation.

C&D Debris (Construction and Demolition)

Waste generated from construction, renovation, and demolition activities, including concrete, wood, metals, drywall, and roofing materials.

- Our C&D MRF recovers wood, metals, and concrete. - Gypsum drywall in C&D loads requires special handling. - The project has a 75% C&D diversion requirement.

CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act)

Federal law, also known as Superfund, that governs the cleanup of releases of hazardous substances and assigns liability to potentially responsible parties (PRPs).

- The site was listed on the NPL under CERCLA. - PRPs negotiated a consent decree for remedial action. - Cost recovery was pursued for past CERCLA expenditures.

Circular Economy

An economic model focused on keeping materials and products in use as long as possible through design, reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling, minimizing waste and resource extraction.

- EPR policies are part of the circular economy toolkit. - Designing for repairability supports circularity targets. - Contracts now include circular economy KPIs beyond diversion.

Cradle-to-Grave Liability

Legal responsibility for hazardous waste from generation through transportation, treatment, storage, and final disposal, regardless of ownership transfer.

- Under RCRA, generators retain cradle-to-grave liability. - We audit TSDFs to manage cradle-to-grave risk. - E-Manifest improves cradle-to-grave tracking of shipments.

DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations (49 CFR)

U.S. Department of Transportation rules that govern classification, packaging, labeling, placarding, and transportation of hazardous materials.

- The shipment required a Class 3 placard under DOT HazMat rules. - We trained drivers per 49 CFR Subpart H. - Packaging had to meet UN performance standards.

E-Manifest (EPA Hazardous Waste e-Manifest)

EPA’s electronic system for tracking hazardous waste shipments, replacing paper manifests to improve transparency, accuracy, and efficiency.

- Our TSDF integrates directly with the e-Manifest system. - Generators pay e-Manifest fees based on submission type. - Digitized manifests improved exception reporting timelines.

EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility)

Policy approach making producers responsible for the end-of-life management of their products and packaging, including financing and performance targets.

- The state’s packaging EPR law shifts costs to producers. - Producer Responsibility Organizations manage compliance. - EPR fees vary with recyclability and material type.

E-waste (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment)

Discarded electronic devices and components, often containing hazardous substances and valuable metals; subject to specialized handling and recycling standards.

- Our e-waste program follows R2/e-Stewards standards. - CRT glass requires specialized downstreams. - Data destruction certification is required for ITAD clients.

F-Listed Waste

Non-specific source hazardous wastes listed in 40 CFR 261.31, commonly including spent solvents and certain sludges.

- Spent solvent residues are often F001–F005 wastes. - We used generator knowledge and SDS to identify F-listed streams. - F006 plating sludge requires Subtitle C management.

Financial Assurance

Required mechanisms (e.g., bonds, letters of credit, trust funds) to ensure funds are available for closure, post-closure care, or corrective action at regulated facilities.

- The landfill’s closure and post-closure care are backed by surety bonds. - States audited our financial assurance mechanisms. - Phase-in of cost estimates increased our required coverage.

GCCS (Gas Collection and Control System)

A network of wells, piping, and controls used to capture and treat landfill gas (LFG), typically via flaring, energy recovery, or RNG upgrading.

- We expanded the GCCS to meet NSPS wellhead standards. - Surface scans indicated the need for additional laterals. - Flaring was replaced with LFG-to-energy units.

Generator Categories (VSQG, SQG, LQG)

EPA hazardous waste generator status based on monthly quantities generated: Very Small Quantity Generator, Small Quantity Generator, or Large Quantity Generator, each with distinct requirements.

- Our plant moved from SQG to LQG after a process change. - LQGs must submit biennial reports under RCRA. - VSQGs can consolidate waste at an LQG under certain conditions.

Groundwater Monitoring

Program of installing and sampling wells around facilities (e.g., landfills) to detect releases and assess contaminant trends against regulatory standards.

- Detection monitoring triggered an assessment program. - We installed nested wells downgradient of the landfill. - Statistical analysis used prediction limits per guidance.

HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response)

OSHA standard (29 CFR 1910.120) requiring training, medical surveillance, and safety plans for hazardous waste operations and emergency response work.

- Field staff completed 40-hour HAZWOPER training. - Annual 8-hour refreshers are tracked for compliance. - The site-specific HASP meets HAZWOPER requirements.

HHW (Household Hazardous Waste)

Consumer products with hazardous characteristics (e.g., paints, pesticides, cleaners) requiring special collection and handling to prevent environmental harm.

- The county hosts quarterly HHW collection events. - HHW loads are segregated from MSW on the tipping floor. - Paint stewardship programs reduce HHW disposal costs.

Incineration

High-temperature thermal treatment that oxidizes waste, reducing volume and potentially recovering energy; generates flue gas and residual ash requiring management.

- The WtE plant uses mass-burn incineration. - Bottom ash is tested for metals before reuse. - Air permits limit NOx and acid gases from the unit.

ISCO (In Situ Chemical Oxidation)

Injection of chemical oxidants (e.g., permanganate, persulfate, peroxide) into the subsurface to destroy organic contaminants in place.

- We injected persulfate to treat PCE hotspots. - ISCO was paired with SVE for source zone cleanup. - Bench tests determined oxidant demand before full-scale.

Landfill Gas-to-Energy (LFGTE)

Utilization of collected landfill gas as a fuel for electricity generation, direct use, or upgrading to renewable natural gas (RNG).

- Engines export 6 MW from our LFGTE project. - We evaluated RNG upgrading versus electricity sales. - Siloxane control was added to protect turbines.

Leachate

Liquid that percolates through waste, extracting dissolved and suspended constituents; collected and treated to prevent groundwater impacts.

- Leachate is pumped to storage and hauled to a POTW. - PFAS treatment is being piloted for leachate. - The liner’s collection system prevents head buildup.

LNAPL (Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid)

A non-water-miscible liquid (e.g., gasoline) that is less dense than water and can accumulate as a separate phase on the water table.

- We installed skimmers to recover LNAPL in wells. - Gauging indicated declining LNAPL thickness over time. - LNAPL transmissivity supported closure criteria.

Material Recovery Facility (MRF)

A facility that receives, separates, and prepares recyclable materials for marketing through mechanical and manual sorting, baling, and quality control.

- The MRF upgraded with optical sorters and eddy currents. - Bale quality specs reduced contamination claims. - Single-stream inputs increased MRF residue rates.

MSW (Municipal Solid Waste)

Everyday residential and commercial refuse, excluding industrial process waste and special wastes; typically managed via collection, transfer, and disposal or recycling.

- The hauler collects MSW weekly and recycling biweekly. - MSW composition studies guide diversion strategies. - MSW is landfilled at a Subtitle D facility.

NPDES Permit

A Clean Water Act permit regulating point-source discharges to surface waters, including industrial wastewater and stormwater.

- The landfill’s leachate discharge operates under an NPDES permit. - Stormwater sampling is required during qualifying events. - Exceedances triggered a corrective action plan.

PAYT (Pay-As-You-Throw)

Unit-based pricing for solid waste collection where customers pay per unit of trash set out, incentivizing waste reduction and recycling.

- PAYT bag fees increased residential recycling rates. - The city switched to cart-based PAYT pricing. - Equity concerns were addressed with low-income discounts.

PCB (Polychlorinated Biphenyls)

Synthetic chlorinated compounds historically used in electrical equipment and other products; regulated under TSCA due to toxicity and persistence.

- PCB remediation followed TSCA self-implementing rules. - Bulk product waste with >50 ppm PCB required special disposal. - Wipe sampling confirmed cleanup levels were met.

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)

A large class of persistent, mobile synthetic chemicals used for stain, water, and grease resistance; increasingly regulated due to health and environmental concerns.

- PFAS in landfill leachate drove treatment upgrades. - The client requested PFAS-free firefighting foam disposal options. - Regulators proposed PFAS monitoring at WWTPs and landfills.

Phase II ESA (Environmental Site Assessment)

An intrusive investigation using sampling and analysis to confirm and delineate contamination identified as potential RECs in a Phase I ESA.

- Phase II ESA confirmed metals exceedances in soil. - The scope included soil borings, groundwater wells, and vapor points. - Results informed the site’s RAP submittal.

QA/QC (Quality Assurance/Quality Control)

Processes to ensure data integrity and reliability in sampling, analysis, and reporting, including plans, documentation, and checks like blanks and duplicates.

- Field blanks and duplicates met QA/QC objectives. - The QAPP outlines QA/QC procedures for sampling. - Data validation flagged a holding time exceedance.

RAP (Remedial Action Plan)

A document detailing selected cleanup remedies, design, implementation steps, performance criteria, and compliance requirements for a contaminated site.

- The RAP proposed ISCO and SVE for VOCs. - Community input was incorporated into the RAP. - The RAP specified performance metrics and endpoints.

RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act)

U.S. federal law regulating solid and hazardous waste management, including generator standards, transport, treatment, storage, and disposal.

- Subtitle C governs hazardous waste cradle-to-grave. - Subtitle D sets MSW landfill design and operations. - The facility obtained a RCRA Part B TSDF permit.

Recycling Contamination Rate

The percentage of non-recyclable material present in the recycling stream, affecting processing efficiency, bale quality, and costs.

- The MRF assessed a 15% contamination rate on inbound loads. - Education campaigns reduced cart contamination. - Contracts include contamination thresholds and fees.

SPCC Plan (Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure)

A plan required under 40 CFR 112 for facilities storing above-threshold quantities of oil to prevent, control, and respond to discharges to navigable waters.

- Secondary containment was added to meet SPCC requirements. - Monthly inspections documented tank integrity. - A 1,320-gallon threshold triggered SPCC applicability.

Subtitle D Landfill

Non-hazardous solid waste landfill regulated under RCRA Subtitle D, with standards for liners, leachate collection, cover, and monitoring.

- The cell was constructed with a composite liner per Subtitle D. - Weekly cover and litter control are part of the O&M plan. - Groundwater monitoring is required at Subtitle D facilities.

SVE (Soil Vapor Extraction)

An in situ remediation technology that applies vacuum to remove volatile contaminants from unsaturated soils for treatment above ground.

- SVE wells were installed in the vadose zone. - Off-gas treatment used granular activated carbon. - Vacuum radius-of-influence tests guided system design.

TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure)

A laboratory leaching test (Method 1311) to determine if a waste exhibits the toxicity characteristic for certain contaminants under RCRA.

- TCLP lead above 5 mg/L classified the waste as hazardous. - We ran composite TCLP samples on ash. - TCLP results informed disposal at a TSDF.

Tipping Fee

The price charged per ton (or per load) to accept waste or recyclables at a facility such as a landfill, MRF, or transfer station.

- The landfill increased the MSW tipping fee by 5%. - Special waste commands a higher tipping fee. - Tipping fees are indexed to CPI in the contract.

Transfer Station

A facility where collected waste is consolidated, compacted, and loaded into larger vehicles for efficient transport to distant disposal or processing sites.

- Route trucks tip at the transfer station for long-haul. - The site uses walking-floor trailers to the landfill. - Traffic flow improvements reduced queuing at the scalehouse.

TSCA (Toxic Substances Control Act)

U.S. law regulating the manufacture, use, and cleanup of certain chemical substances, including stringent controls for PCBs and asbestos.

- PCB cleanup followed TSCA TSCA-regulated remediation levels. - TSCA rules impacted use of certain chemicals on-site. - The audit checked TSCA recordkeeping for PCBs and asbestos.

TSDF (Treatment, Storage, and Disposal Facility)

A permitted facility under RCRA authorized to treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste, subject to strict design, operating, and reporting standards.

- We audited the TSDF’s RCRA permit conditions. - Waste profiling and approvals are required before shipment. - The client prefers TSDFs with on-site incineration and stabilization.

Universal Waste

A streamlined category of commonly generated hazardous wastes (e.g., batteries, lamps, pesticides, mercury devices, aerosols) with reduced requirements to facilitate collection and recycling.

- Lamps and batteries were managed as universal waste. - Aerosol cans were added to our universal waste program. - Training covers universal waste labeling and accumulation times.

UST (Underground Storage Tank)

A tank and connected piping with at least 10% of its volume underground, commonly storing fuels; subject to installation, monitoring, and closure regulations.

- We completed UST closure with soil confirmation sampling. - The leak detection system triggered an alarm. - LUST funding supported remediation of a release.

Vapor Intrusion (VI)

Migration of volatile chemicals from subsurface contamination into buildings, potentially impacting indoor air quality and requiring mitigation.

- Sub-slab depressurization mitigated VI risks. - Indoor air sampling detected TCE above screening levels. - The VI pathway was considered in the risk assessment.

Waste Hierarchy

A prioritization framework that places source reduction and reuse above recycling, composting, energy recovery, and disposal.

- Procurement policies prioritize the waste hierarchy. - The plan targets source reduction before recycling. - Energy recovery is considered after reuse and recycling.

Zero Waste

A philosophy and set of strategies aiming to eliminate waste through redesign, reduction, reuse, and high diversion, typically targeting 90% or greater landfill diversion.

- The campus achieved TRUE Zero Waste certification at 90% diversion. - Zero Waste goals influenced packaging specifications. - Contamination control is critical to Zero Waste programs.