How is household hazardous waste regulated?
Households often generate solid wastes that could technically be hazardous wastes (e.g., old solvents, paints, pesticides, fertilizer, poisons). However, it would be impossible to regulate every house in the United States that occasionally throw away a can of paint thinner or a bottle of rat poison. Therefore, EPA developed the household waste exemption. Under this exemption, wastes generated by normal household activities (e.g., routine house and yard maintenance) are exempt from the definition of hazardous waste. EPA has expanded the exemption to include household-like areas, such as bunkhouses, ranger stations, crew quarters, campgrounds, picnic grounds, and day-use recreation areas. While household hazardous waste is exempt from Subtitle C, it is regulated under Subtitle D as a solid waste.
