June 28, 2005

OSW Meeting with ETC

Attendees

Matt Hale, OSW

Maria Vickers, OSW

Dale Ruhter, OSW

Kathy Blanton, OSW

Scott Slesinger, Environmental Technology Council

---notes of discussion at the meeting relevant to the Definition of
Solid Waste rulemaking---

ETC is aware that EPA is trying to get case studies on recyclers gone
bad. ETC explained that they heard that the DSW rule didn’t come up at
the last ASTSWMO meeting and he is concerned that states, therefore, may
not see it as a priority and that this may hinder EPA’s efforts to get
information from the states. EPA replied that we have been in contact
with the states and that he will make sure they focus on it.

ETC expressed its desire that DSW/ recycling staff/ managers come out to
see some of his facilities (e.g., recycling facility in Detroit,
landfill also in MI/ IN area, hazardous waste incinerator in Pittsburg).
He sees a disconnect in the first criterion for legitimacy being how to
handle a material that isn’t a waste when the guidelines are the same
as how his people handle hazardous wastes. 

Regarding hazardous waste landfills, ETC stated that the only thing in
hazardous waste landfills these days is metals; there are no organics
like in D landfills. ETC wants to change the conception that landfilling
and incineration are a last resort action and stated that there is a
time when landfilling is the better environmental option (especially
when recycling is unpermitted. He stated that, if anything, recycling
should be regulated more than it is now, not less. 

ETC members are doing lots of recycling and would like to be involved in
any rulemaking/ discussions regarding hazardous waste recycling. 

