A new waste reduction requirement for hazardous waste generators: California Senate Bill No. 14

On October 1, 1989, the Governor of California signed into law Senate Bill No. 14 (Roberti) enacting the Hazardous Waste Reduction and Management Review Act of 1989. This act will require generators to identify all major hazardous waste streams at the generator's site and evaluate any and all potentially viable source reduction approaches for each identified hazardous waste stream. In addition, the generator must assess the effectiveness of hazardous waste management procedures previously implemented including recycling and treatment activities. The intent of Senate Bill No. 14 is to promote the reduction of hazardous waste at its source. Source reduction can be defined to include all of the following practices: Input changes: changes in raw material or feedstock; Operational improvements: improved site management; Production process change: returning hazardous materials or components for reuse; Product reformulation: changing composition or specifications of end products; and Administrative steps: inventory control, employee training or waste minimization policies. This paper discusses the requirements of Senate Bill No. 14 from a generator's perspective including applicability, exemptions, reporting requirements and implementation