Hazardous Materials

Hazardous Waste Division’s primary goals are to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, to conserve energy and natural resources, to reduce the amount of waste generated, and to ensure the generated wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner. The Hazardous Waste Program regulates commercial businesses as well as federal, State, and local government facilities that generate, transport, treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste. Each of these entities is regulated to ensure proper management of hazardous waste from the moment it is generated until its ultimate disposal or destruction.

The Hazardous Waste Program enforces the provisions of the District of Columbia Hazardous Waste Management Act of 1977. Congress enacted this law, which is based on the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), in 1976. The District of Columbia received authorization in 1985 to implement its own hazardous waste management program in lieu of the federal program.

Documents and Resources

• Register as a Hazardous Waste Generator
• Proper Disposal of Bulbs and Batteries
• Proper Disposal of "Sharps" [PDF]
• Proper Disposal of Pharmaceuticals [PDF]
• Who Generates Hazardous Waste?

Regulations and Laws

• District of Columbia Hazardous Waste Management Laws [PDF]
• District of Columbia Hazardous Waste Management Regulations [PDF]

For questions, concerns and reporting of hazardous spills, call EMA at (202) 727-6161.