Section 173-303-016 - Identifying solid waste(1) Purpose and applicability.(a) The purpose of this section is to identify those materials that are and are not solid wastes.(b)(i) The definition of solid waste contained in this section applies only to wastes that also are dangerous for purposes of the regulations implementing chapter 70.105 RCW. For example, it does not apply to materials (such as nondangerous scrap, paper, textiles, or rubber) that are not otherwise dangerous wastes and that are recycled.(ii) This section identifies only some of the materials which are solid wastes and dangerous wastes under chapter 70.105 RCW. A material which is not defined as a solid waste in this section, or is not a dangerous waste identified or listed in this section, is still a solid waste and a dangerous waste for purposes of these sections if reason and authority exists under chapter 70.105 RCW and WAC 173-303-960. Within the constraints of chapter 70.105 RCW, this includes, but is not limited to, any material that: Is accumulated, used, reused, or handled in a manner that poses a threat to public health or the environment; or, due to the dangerous constituent(s) in it, when used or reused would pose a threat to public health or the environment.(c) Certain materials are solid wastes but are excluded from the requirements of this chapter by WAC 173-303-071 and 173-303-073.(2) The following terms are used and have the meanings as defined in WAC 173-303-040: (h) Used or reused (see reuse or use)(m) Processed scrap metal(3) Definition of solid waste. (a) A solid waste is any discarded material that is not excluded by WAC 173-303-017(2) or that is not excluded by variance granted under WAC 173-303-017(5).(b) A discarded material is any material that is: (i) Abandoned, as explained in subsection (4) of this section; or(ii) Recycled, as explained in subsection (5) of this section; or(iii) Considered inherently waste-like, as explained in subsection (6) of this section. Persons registering micronutrient or waste-derived fertilizers under chapter 15.54 RCW must submit information required by the department to indicate compliance with this chapter. The required minimum information is described in WAC 173-303-505; or(iv) A military munition identified as a solid waste at WAC 173-303-578(2).(4) Materials are solid waste if they are abandoned by being:(b) Burned or incinerated; or(c) Accumulated, stored, or treated (but not recycled) before or in lieu of being abandoned by being disposed of, burned, or incinerated; or(d) Sham recycled, as defined in subsection (8) of this section.(5) Materials are solid wastes if they are recycled-or accumulated, stored, or treated before recycling-as specified in (a) through (d) of this subsection. (a) Used in a manner constituting disposal. Materials noted with a "*" in column 1 of Table 1 are solid wastes when they are:(i)(A) Applied to or placed on the land in a manner that constitutes disposal; or(B) Used to produce products that are applied to or placed on the land or are otherwise contained in products that are applied to or placed on the land (in which cases the product itself remains a solid waste).(ii) However, commercial chemical products listed in WAC 173-303-9903 or which exhibit any of the criteria or characteristics listed in WAC 173-303-090 or 173-303-100 are not solid wastes if they are applied to the land and that is their ordinary manner of use.(b) Burning for energy recovery. Materials noted with a "*" in column 2 of Table 1 are solid wastes when they are:(i) Burned to recover energy;(ii) Used to produce a fuel or are otherwise contained in fuels (in which cases the fuel itself remains a solid waste). However, commercial chemical products listed in WAC 173-303-9903 or which exhibit any of the criteria or characteristics listed in WAC 173-303-090 or 173-303-100 are not solid wastes if they are themselves fuels.
(c) Reclaimed. Materials noted with a "*" in column 3 of Table 1 are solid wastes when reclaimed.(d)(i) Accumulated speculatively. Materials noted with a "*" in column 4 of Table 1 are solid wastes when accumulated speculatively.(ii) A material is "accumulated speculatively" if it is accumulated before being recycled. A material is not accumulated speculatively, however, if the person accumulating it can show that the material is potentially recyclable and has a feasible means of being recycled; and that-during the calendar year (commencing on January 1)-the amount of material that is recycled, or transferred to a different site for recycling, equals at least seventy-five percent by weight or volume of the amount of that material accumulated at the beginning of the period. Materials must be placed in a storage unit with a label indicating the first date that the material began to be accumulated. If placing a label on the storage unit is not practical, the accumulation period must be documented through an inventory log or other appropriate method. In calculating the percentage of turnover, the seventy-five percent requirement is to be applied to each material of the same type (e.g., slags from a single smelting process) that is recycled in the same way (i.e., from which the same material is recovered or that is used in the same way). Materials accumulating in units that would be exempt from regulation under WAC 173-303-071(3)(n) are not to be included in making the calculation. (Materials that are already defined as solid wastes also are not to be included in making the calculation.) Materials are no longer in this category once they are removed from accumulation for recycling, however. TABLE 1
| Use constituting disposal WAC 173-303-016(5)(a) | Energy recovery/ fuel WA C 173-303-016 (5)(b) | Reclamation WAC 173-303-016(5)(c) | Speculative accumulation WA C 173-303-016 (5)(d) |
| Spent materials | (*) | (*) | (*) | (*) |
| Commercial chemical products | (*) | (*) | - | - |
| By-products listed in WAC 173-303-9904 | (*) | (*) | (*) | (*) |
| Sludges listed in WAC 173-303-9904 | (*) | (*) | (*) | (*) |
| By-products exhibiting a characteristic1 or criteria2 | (*) | (*) | - | (*) |
| Sludges exhibiting a characteristic1 or criteria2 | (*) | (*) | - | (*) |
| Scrap metal that is not excluded under WAC 173-303-071(3)(ff) | (*) | (*) | (*) | (*) |
| Note: | The terms "spent materials," "sludges," "by-products," "scrap metal" and "processed scrap metal" are defined in WAC 173-303-040. |
| 1 | The characteristics of dangerous waste are described in WAC 173-303-090. |
| 2 | The dangerous waste criteria are described in WAC 173-303-100. |
(6) Inherently waste-like materials. The following materials are solid wastes when they are recycled in any manner: (a) Dangerous Waste Nos. F020, F021 (unless used as an ingredient to make a product at the site of generation), F022, F023, F026, and F028.(b) Secondary materials fed to a halogen acid furnace that exhibit a characteristic of a dangerous waste or are listed as a dangerous waste as defined in WAC 173-303-090 or 173-303-080 through 173-303-082, except for brominated material that meets the following criteria: (i) The material must contain a bromine concentration of at least 45%; and(ii) The material must contain less than a total of 1% of toxic organic compounds listed in WAC 173-303-9905; and(iii) The material is processed continually on site in the halogen acid furnace via direct conveyance (hard piping).(c) The department will use the following criteria to add wastes to (a) of this subsection: (i)(A) The materials are ordinarily disposed of, burned, or incinerated; or(B) The materials contain toxic constituents listed in WAC 173-303-9905 and these constituents are not ordinarily found in raw materials or products for which the materials substitute (or are found in raw materials or products in smaller concentrations) and are not used or reused during the recycling process; and(ii) The material may pose a substantial hazard to human health or the environment when recycled.(7) Documentation of claims that materials are not solid wastes or are conditionally exempt from regulation. Respondents in actions to enforce regulations implementing chapter 70.105 RCW who raise a claim that a certain material is not a solid waste, or is conditionally exempt from regulation, must demonstrate that there is a known market or disposition for the material, and that they meet the terms of the exclusion or exemption. In doing so, they must provide appropriate documentation (such as contracts showing that a second person uses the material as an ingredient in a production process) to demonstrate that the material is not a waste, or is exempt from regulation. In addition, owners or operators of facilities claiming that they actually are recycling materials must show that they have the necessary equipment to do so.(8) Sham recycling. A material found to be sham recycled is considered discarded and a solid waste. Sham recycling is recycling that is not legitimate recycling as defined in WAC 173-303-019.Wash. Admin. Code § 173-303-016
Amended by WSR 15-01-123, Filed 12/18/2014, effective 1/18/2015Amended by WSR 19-04-038, Filed 1/28/2019, effective 4/28/2019Statutory Authority: Chapters 70.105, 70.105D, 15.54 RCW and RCW 70.105.007. 00-11-040 (Order 99-01), § 173-303-016, filed 5/10/00, effective 6/10/00. Statutory Authority: Chapters 70.105 and 70.105D RCW. 95-22-008 (Order 94-30), § 173-303-016, filed 10/19/95, effective 11/19/95; 94-01-060 (Order 92-33), § 173-303-016, filed 12/8/93, effective 1/8/94. Statutory Authority: Chapters 70.105 and 70.105D RCW, 40 C.F.R. Part 271.3 and RCRA § 3006 ( 42 U.S.C. 3251). 91-07-005 (Order 90-42), § 173-303-016, filed 3/7/91, effective 4/7/91. Statutory Authority: Chapter 70.105 RCW. 86-12-057 (Order DE-85-10), § 173-303-016, filed 6/3/86; 84-14-031 (Order DE 84-22), § 173-303-016, filed 6/27/84.