Governance & Policy
US Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)
The principal United States waste law, governing hazardous waste from generation to disposal and regulating solid waste landfills and underground tanks.
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.
Quick reference
At a glance
- Subject
- Governance & Policy
- Editorial status
- Editorial draft
- Definition status
- Established
- Last updated
- 19 August 2026
- Also known as
- RCRA · Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976
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.
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