Summary of Hazardous Waste Generator Status Options

A brief summary of the hazardous waste generator status options is provided below. Consult the regulations (DC and Federal) for additional information.
LQG: Large Quantity Generator

The site is a Large Quantity Generator (LQG) if the site generates any of the following amounts in a calendar month:

(i) Greater than or equal to 1,000 kilograms (kg; ~2,200 pounds [lbs]) of non-acute RCRA hazardous waste; or

(ii) Greater than 1 kg (~2.2 lbs) of any RCRA acute hazardous waste listed in sections 261.31 or 261.33(e); or

(iii) Greater than 100 kg (~220 lbs) of any residue or contaminated soil, waste, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into or on any land or water, of any acute hazardous wastes listed in sections 261.31 or 261.33(e).

 

In DC, an initial registration fee of $1,000 is required.  A renewal fee of $1,000 is due each year on March 1^st.

SQG: Small Quantity Generator

The site is a SQG if the site meets all of the following criteria:

 

(i) Generates, in any calendar month, more than 100 kg (~220 lbs) but less than 1,000 kg (~2,200 lbs) of RCRA hazardous waste; and

(ii) Does not generate, in any calendar month, more than 1 kg (~2.2 lbs.) of acute hazardous waste listed in sections 261.31 or 261.33(e); and

(iii) Does not generate more than 100 kg (~220 lbs) of material from the cleanup of any residue or contaminated soil, waste, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into or on any land or water, of any acute hazardous wastes listed in sections 261.31 or 261.33(e).; and

(iv) Does not accumulate more than 6000 kg (~13,200 lbs) of hazardous waste at the site.

 

In DC, an initial registration fee of $500 is required.  A renewal fee of $500 is due each year on March 1^st

CESQG: Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generator

The site is a CESQG if the site meets all of the following criteria:

(i) Generates, in any calendar month, less than or equal to 100 kg (~220 lbs) of hazardous waste; and
(ii) Does not generate, in any calendar month, more than 1 kg (~2.2 lbs) of acute hazardous wastes listed in sections 261.31, or 261.33(e); and
(iii) Does not generate more than 100 kg (~220 lbs) of any residue or contaminated soil, waste, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill, into or on any land or water, of any acute hazardous wastes listed in sections 261.31, or 261.33(e); and
(iv) Does not accumulate more than 1000 kg (~2,200 lbs) of hazardous waste at the site.

In DC, an initial registration fee of $250 is required for CESQGs.  A renewal fee of $250 is due each year on March 1^st.  An initial registration fee of $100 is required for CESQGs with less than eight (8) employees. A renewal fee of $100 is due each year on March 1^st.

In DC, if the only regulated waste your facility generates is universal waste fluorescent lamps, and/or universal waste batteries, and/or used motor oil, your facility will register as CESQG.

Short-Term Generators

If the facility is currently generating hazardous waste only as the result of a one-time, nonrecurring, temporary event that is not related to normal production processes then the facility may register as a short term or temporary generator.  In other words, short-term generators produce hazardous waste from a particular activity for a limited time and then cease conducting that activity.

 

Examples of short-term generators include:

1. one-time highway bridge waste generation;underground storage tank removals;
2. generation of off-spec or out-of-date chemicals at a site that normally doesn’t generate hazardous   waste;
3. remediation or spill clean-up at sites with no previous EPA Identification Number; and
4. site or production process decommissions by a new operator.