News Release

T – 05 – 23
Meredith Williams, Director

Contact: Alysa Pakkidis
(916) 594-4598
Alysa.Pakkidis@dtsc.ca.gov

DTSC Releases Draft Hazardous Waste Management Plan Report

Data in Draft Report to guide California’s 2025 Hazardous Waste Management Plan

DTSC to host workshop for input from community stakeholders, businesses, sovereign tribal governments, and other government agencies.

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) today released the first draft of the Hazardous Waste Management Report as required by Senate Bill 158 (SB 158). It is the first step in an iterative process to determine the types of information and additional research needed to guide a comprehensive planning process for the future of sustainable hazardous waste management in the state. A workshop is being held (in-person and on Zoom) on August 9 in Sacramento to review the data and discuss next steps toward development of a Hazardous Waste Management Plan.

“Release of this report marks the beginning of renewed and forward-thinking conversations about the ways in which we generate and manage hazardous waste across the state,” said Yana Garcia, Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA). “This is a deeply complex system, and developing more efficient and sustainable waste management strategies will require thoughtful and deliberate policy approaches. I look forward to working with partners across the state on improved data collection and waste management – now and into the future.”

The purpose of the Report is to present information about the different sources and quantities of hazardous wastes generated in the state, as well as destinations, and eventual disposal locations through analysis of available data to:

• Establish a baseline understanding of the management of hazardous waste in the State of California.
• Identify data gaps and items that require additional research.
• Begin to develop plans to fill data gaps and complete additional research.

“Over the years DTSC has maintained and enforced one of the most robust and protective hazardous waste management programs in the nation,” said Meredith Williams, DTSC’s Director. “The Hazardous Waste Management Draft Report is the first step to ensuring we continue to manage hazardous waste in a sustainable manner. This report provides data on our hazardous waste management system and recommends areas for future work. We look forward to engaging with the public during every step of the planning process.”

This initial report sets the stage for robust public policy discussions on sustainable hazardous waste management in the state. Recommendations for how California should manage this waste will be made through Hazardous Waste Management Plans and informed by public discussions with the Board of Environmental Safety (BES), which is responsible for approving final plans. The first of these plans is due March 2025, and every three years thereafter.

Based on consideration of public input and statutory requirements, DTSC has identified four primary areas to examine for the Plan:

• Waste Reduction – Focus on specific industry sectors or waste streams to consider more efficient and sustainable strategies for managing waste, such as on-site treatment, on- and off-site recycling, pollution prevention, safer alternative products, and encouraging a more robust circular economy in California.
• Capacity Assurance – Identify opportunities and make recommendations for increasing access to in-state capacity.
• Hazardous Waste Criteria – Determine whether existing hazardous waste criteria are consistent with current science and technology and asses the differences between California’s and U.S. EPA’s criteria.
• Environmental Justice – Prioritize input from environmental justice communities regarding concerns relating to the management of hazardous waste, including how it relates to site cleanups.

To further inform this Report and the development of the Hazardous Waste Management Plan, DTSC will collaborate with community stakeholders, regulated businesses, sovereign tribal governments, and other government agencies. A workshop is being held (in-person and on Zoom) on August 9, 2023, from 10am to 5pm at CalEPA’s Headquarters in Sacramento. Click here to learn more about this event and to register.

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FOR GENERAL INQUIRIES: Contact the Department of Toxic Substances Control to report illegal handling, discharge, or disposal of hazardous waste or other environmental concerns at Calepa.my.salesforce-sites.com/complaints/Complaint.