Hazardous Waste Generator Program

Overview April 27, 2016

The purpose of the hazardous waste program is to ensure that all hazardous wastes are properly handled, recycled, treated, stored and disposed of.

The State of California Department of Toxic Substances Control authorizes San Mateo County to inspect and regulate hazardous waste generators in San Mateo County based on the Hazardous Waste Control Law found in the California Health and Safety Code Division 20, Chapter 6.5 and regulations found in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 4.5. These regulations require businesses generating any amount of hazardous waste as defined by regulation to properly store, manage and dispose of hazardous waste. Our staff conducts annual inspections at businesses to assess compliance with state and federal law and regulations.

If your business generates any amount of hazardous waste, you must obtain a County permit. Complete the Registration Form and submit it to envhealth@smcgov.org.

What is a Hazardous Waste?

The generator of the waste shall determine if that waste is a hazardous waste by applying their knowledge of the characteristics of the waste or by testing it according to the approved methods to determine:

if the waste is excluded from regulation;
if the waste is listed as a hazardous waste;
if the waste exhibits ignitable, corrosive, reactive or toxic characteristics.

If the waste is determined to be hazardous the generator must comply with all applicable requirements.

Hazardous waste is divided into different types (e.g., universal waste, recyclable waste, etc.) or categories, including RCRA hazardous waste and non-RCRA hazardous waste. Properly categorizing a hazardous waste is necessary for land disposal restrictions, treatment standards, and fees. For additional information about waste determination, click here.

Which are the Applicable Requirements?

Hazardous waste generators need to comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations applicable to their generator category, the type of hazardous waste, and the process that generates the waste. In California, there are two generator categories:

Small Quantity Generators (SQG): Generate < 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month, excluding universal wastes, and/or 1kg or less of acutely or extremely hazardous waste per month
Large Quantity Generators (LQG): Generate 1,000 kg or more of hazardous waste per month, excluding universal wastes, and/or more than 1 kg of acutely or extremely hazardous per month

California did not adopt the conditional exemption for smaller quantity generators in 40 CFR 261.5 including the counting requirements found in that section. Therefore, in California generators of 100 kg or less of hazardous waste per month are regulated as SQGs and not Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators (CESQGs) as they would be under the federal hazardous waste management program. There are still some provisions that apply to CESQs. For example, they can dispose of their hazardous waste to a Very Small Quantity Collection Facility.

LQG facilities have additional and more stringent requirements than SQGs. It is the responsibility of the facility to determine the generator status and comply with applicable requirements.

For a list of requirements based on the generator category, click here.

Do I Need a Hazardous Waste ID Number?

Any facility who generates, transports, offers for transport, treats, stores, or disposes of hazardous waste (All are collectively called “handlers”.) generally must have an ID number, which is used to identify the hazardous waste handler, and to track the hazardous waste from the point of origin to its final disposal.

Permanent ID numbers are issued to people or businesses who routinely generate hazardous wastes. Temporary ID numbers are issued to people or businesses who do not typically generate hazardous waste; these ID numbers are valid only for 90 days. You must request a permanent ID number if you need to have another ID number after your temporary ID number expires.

Facilities must determine if they need a Federal or a State ID number. Federal EPA ID numbers are issued to handlers of federally regulated hazardous wastes (AKA RCRA hazardous waste). This includes generators of more than 100 kg of RCRA hazardous waste and/or more than one kg of acutely hazardous waste. EPA ID numbers are site-specific. All other handlers of hazardous waste are issued State ID numbers. State ID numbers are owner and site-specific.

Generators who produce, in each month, less than or equal to 100 kilograms of RCRA hazardous waste that is hazardous only due to silver, such as spent photo-processing solutions, do not need an ID Number. This exemption does not apply if the generator produces any other hazardous waste or is otherwise required to get an ID Number.

Apply for an ID Number
For State ID Number: Complete the form DTSC 1358 and submit it to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).

For Federal EPA ID Number: Complete the form EPA 8700-12 and submit it to DTSC. Applications can be also submitted using the myRCRAid website. GO to the U.S. EPA’s RCRA info login page to create an account. Then complete the steps to apply for a Federal EPA ID.

Keeping your ID Number Active
Facilities need to submit the electronic Verification Questionnaire (eVQ) annually. Failure to submit the eVQ by the deadline will inactivate your number. If you don’t have an account yet, go to the eVQ website to register. Once you have an eVQ account, you will receive reminders to certify the ID number and avoid inactivation.

Reactivating your ID Number
All numbers that were not certified during the certification period have been inactivated by the State. If you are unsure of the status of the ID number for your facility, look it up on the Hazardous Waste Tracking System website.

ID numbers can be reactivated electronically or by completing the required forms. Click on this link for instructions on how to reactivate your State or federal ID number.

Hazardous Waste Disposal Options

Depending on the frequency and amount of hazardous waste generation, disposal options will vary:
Recyclable waste: Used oil, paint waste, and universal waste are considered recyclable hazardous wastes and there are alternative options for disposal for businesses that generate small quantities of these wastes. Businesses must check the quantity limits of each site before dropping off their waste. See the links below for disposal options:

Used motor oil collection centers
Paint Care collection centers
Universal Waste hauler list

Very Small Quantity Generator Program
Sites that generate less than 27 gallons (100 kg.) of hazardous waste per month can dispose of their hazardous waste through the San Mateo County Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) Program. Hazardous waste generators need to provide a hazardous waste ID number to schedule an appointment to drop-off their waste.

To schedule an appointment at the VSQG location, go to smchealth.org/vsqg.

Hazardous Waste Haulers
If the facility generates over 100 kg. of hazardous waste per month, the business cannot use the VSQG program and will need to schedule a hazardous waste pickup with a registered hazardous waste hauler. For a list of haulers click here.

Free Hazardous Waste Management Webinar for SQGs

San Mateo County provides FREE hazardous waste management training for businesses within the County that generate less than 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month, excluding universal wastes, and/or 1kg or less of acutely or extremely hazardous waste per month (defined as Small Quantity Generators, or SQGs).

The training will be presented online and will cover the basics of identifying hazardous waste, proper labeling, accumulation requirements for hazardous waste, recordkeeping requirements, and universal waste management requirements.

2023 Webinar Dates:
January 12
March 9
May 11
July 13

Time: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

How to Register:
Sign up here to complete your online registration, or email the registration form to registrar@nesglobal.net to reserve your spot.

Space is limited. Please add your contact information to the waitlist if registration is full.

Please visit this page for future training opportunities.

2022 Annual CUPA Training Conference

The 24th Annual CUPA Training Conference will feature a no-cost training session for businesses that generate hazardous waste. This training session will provide an overview of federal and state regulations regarding the classification, management, transportation, and disposal of hazardous waste for Small and Large Quantity Generators.

This session will be repeated two times.

2022 Training Dates:
March 22, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
March 31, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

If you are interested in attending  the full Conference, a conference fee will apply. The Conference will be held virtually from March 22 – March 31, 2022. Conference agenda.

Hazardous Waste Facility Closure

A business that has generated hazardous waste during operations must close according to specific closure standards required under California hazardous waste regulations. Closure requirements protect the environment, business owners, communities, and property owners. At the time of closure, hazardous waste generators are required to demonstrate the proper removal and disposal of hazardous wastes and chemicals, the absence of visible contamination, and that there has been no release to the environment.

A business that generated hazardous waste in San Mateo County must follow the procedures established in the “Hazardous Waste Generator Closure Notification and Procedures” document. A business must submit a completed facility closure notification to CUPA 30 days before beginning closure activities. Large Quantity Generators (LQG) and Tiered Permitting (TP) facilities are required to submit a Closure Plan for approval. Small Quantity Generators (SQG) should submit a work plan in addition to the Closure Notification if decontamination or sampling is required to be conducted. A work plan is a simplified closure plan to document the sampling and decontamination procedures and any relevant facility history.

Additional Resources

San Mateo County and CUPA Forum Guidance Documents

Department of Toxic Substances Control Guidance Documents

Auto Repair/Auto Body

Hazardous Waste Training