HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Hazardous Waste Generator Program

State and Federal laws to regulate the handling of hazardous waste were passed in the 1970s to protect the public health & safety and the environment from the improper disposal and dumping of these dangerous chemical wastes. The laws set up a cradle-to-grave waste management system to track hazardous wastes from the point of generation to their disposal. The generator (creator) of the hazardous waste is responsible for determining whether their waste is hazardous and for the safe handling and proper disposal of that waste. In Monterey County, the Monterey County Environmental Health Division, which is the local CUPA (Certified Unified Program Agency) administers these state and federal hazardous waste laws.

Facilities, which generate any amount of a hazardous waste, including waste oil and solvents that are recycled, must complete and submit a Business Response Plan and an inventory of their hazardous wastes.

Business Response Plans must include specific information on hazardous wastes generated (inventory), emergency contacts, notification procedures, evacuation plans, training procedures and a site map.

Hazardous waste inventories must be completed on CUPA forms and need to include at a minimum the four following pages:

1. Business Activities
2. Business Owner/Operator Identification
3. Hazardous Materials Inventory - Chemical Description
4. Site Map

Persons who generate, transport or offer for transport, treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste generally must have an Identification (ID) Number, which is used to identify the hazardous waste handler and to track the waste from its point of origin to its final disposal ("From Cradle to Grave").

Most hazardous waste falls into two types in California: waste regulated by the federal government under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act is known as "RCRA waste"; waste regulated by California law alone is known as "non-RCRA" or "California-only" waste. All hazardous waste in (RCRA and non-RCRA) California is regulated under state statutes and regulations. If a business generates more than 1 kilogram of RCRA acutely hazardous waste per month or more than 100 kilograms of other RCRA waste per month, they must have a federal ID number. If the business generates 100 kilograms or less of RCRA waste or one kilogram or less per month of acutely hazardous waste, and meet certain other requirements, they are exempt from having a federal ID number. These businesses are called conditionally exempt small-quantity generators or CESQGs.

DTSC issues ID Numbers for generators, transporters, and treatment, storage, and disposal facilities that handle hazardous wastes not regulated under RCRA. As stated above, this depends on the type of waste that you generate and the rate at which you generate it. U.S. EPA issues Federal (RCRA) ID Numbers.  If you need a California ID Number, you can find more information on our California ID Number page.

To apply for, reactivate, or inactivate a permanent California identification number, submit DTSC Form 1358. For more information please visit DTSC webpage. 

Forms: (*Download Instructions)

			Word	PDF
1		Business Response Plan
2		CUPA Business Activites
3		CUPA Business Owner/Operator Identification
4		CUPA Hazardous Material Inventory - Chemical Description
5		Site Map and Instructions
6		Remote Waste Consolidation Site Annual Notification
7		Hazardous Waste Tank Closure Certification
8		Paint Waste Handling and Management
9		Recycling Solvent and Lacquer Thinner Waste
10		Recycling Solvent and Lacquer Thinner F-List
11		Silver Waste Handling and Management
12		Universal Waste Handling and Management

Links:

• California Department of Toxic Substance Control
• California Laws, Regulations & Policies

For more information on the Hazardous Waste Program, contact:
Bruce Welden, Supervising Hazardous Materials Specialist (831) 755-4680.