Governance & Policy
US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
Definition
The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, enacted in 1976, gives the US Environmental Protection Agency authority over hazardous waste "from cradle to grave" — generation, transport, treatment, storage and disposal — alongside standards for non-hazardous solid waste management and underground storage tanks.
References
Cradle-to-grave system and standards
International waste-movement context
Overview
What it means
Hazardous waste in the US moves under a tracked manifest system with facility permits and corrective-action duties for contamination.
How it is used
Generators classify waste and ship under manifest; treatment and disposal facilities hold RCRA permits; cleanup obligations follow contaminated sites.
Why it matters
It is the operational core of US waste control and the statutory partner of the Superfund cleanup regime.