A USDOT University Transportation Center

Transportation Waste Management

Transportation waste management refers to activities within the transportation industry which relate to the disposal, recycling, or transporting of waste materials.1 This process is heavily regulated at the federal level by both the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Wastes generated by transportation-related activities can include lead-contaminated materials, acids and other solvents, pesticides, or garbage and other debris. It has been found that the transportation sector frequently encounters hazardous waste, and there are a number of strategies that can be utilized to manage this waste in transportation-related projects.1,2

Some of these practices include:
– Identify the types and quantity of hazardous materials that may be encountered
– Perform proper, site-specific risk assessments
– Consider the need to transfer hazardous materials to disposal sites
– Evaluate the impact of hazardous waste generation on surrounding communities and the environment
– Periodically review and keep up-to-date on waste management requirements to ensure compliance
– Develop project plans that incorporate recycling and reuse opportunities
– Reduce the use of nonrenewable resources and promote the use of renewable replacements

Considering this strategy will help achieve the goal of the following objectives

  • Less Contamination
  • Less Emissions
  • Less Traffic Noise
  • Connectivity and Inclusion
  • Healthy Destinations
  • Less Traffic Violence
  • Active Transportation
  • Green Space

Transportation lifecycle phases

This strategy is associated with the following transportation lifecycle phases:

  • Construction
  • End of Life
  • Maintenance
  • Material Selection
  • Operations
  • Policy and Planning
  • Project Development

Who's involved

  • Construction companies
  • Federal agencies
  • Local governments
  • State governments
  • Transit agencies
  • Waste management companies
Transportation waste management refers to activities within the transportation industry which relate to the disposal, recycling, or transporting of waste materials.1 This process is heavily regulated at the federal level by both the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Wastes generated by transportation-related activities can include lead-contaminated materials, acids and other solvents, pesticides, or garbage and other debris.
It has been found that the transportation sector frequently encounters hazardous waste, and there are a number of strategies that can be utilized to manage this waste in transportation-related projects.1,2 Some of these practices include:
-Identify the types and quantity of hazardous materials that may be encountered
-Perform proper, site-specific risk assessments
-Consider the need to transfer hazardous materials to disposal sites
-Evaluate the impact of hazardous waste generation on surrounding communities and the environment
-Periodically review and keep up-to-date on waste management requirements to ensure compliance
-Develop project plans that incorporate recycling and reuse opportunities
-Reduce the use of nonrenewable resources and promote the use of renewable replacements

How it Helps

Improperly managed hazardous waste can have detrimental impacts on both human health and the environment.3 Waste generated from the transportation sector—such as automobile maintenance, transportation construction activities, and other sources—can contribute to pollution of urban runoff and degrade water quality.

Minimizing waste generation, cleaning up existing waste, and understanding the risks associated with exposure to hazardous waste are all important to managing waste in the transportation industry. Introducing recycling and reuse options within the transportation sector can provide both environmental and economic benefits and may also lead to performance improvements. Additionally, ensuring that transportation infrastructure is designed for longevity can increase sustainability and reduce further transportation-related waste.

Implementing

Waste Transportation:

It is important to consider hazardous waste transportation, or the transport of waste from a generator’s site to its final destination.4 Many hazardous waste materials are transported to a treatment, storage, and disposal facility (TSDF). Both the EPA and U.S. DOT have established hazardous waste transporter regulations that should be reviewed and followed.

Education:

The successful management of hazardous wastes depends on highly trained transportation workers, construction workers, and other individuals who are responsible for the generation, storage, and disposal of this waste. Employees need to be aware of how to properly handle these materials and how improper management can harm the surrounding community and environment.

Examples

1) Waste Transportation in Texas

Along with the EPA and U.S. DOT, the state of Texas regulates the transportation of hazardous and nonhazardous waste through rules established by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The TCEQ clearly defines what is considered hazardous waste, storage requirements during transportation, packaging and labeling instructions, and other important information for transporters of hazardous waste.

https://www.tceq.texas.gov/downloads/permitting/waste-registration/pub/rg-086.pdf

2) EPA Guidance on Hazardous Waste

Information on hazardous waste requirements can be accessed through the EPA’s Office of Solid Waste, where waste generators can learn about the RCRA and how to clean up different types of hazardous waste.

https://www.epa.gov/environmental-topics/land-waste-and-cleanup-topics

3) FHWA Recycling Policy

The U.S. Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has its own recycling policy that describes how to use of recycled materials in highway applications and its associated benefits.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/recycling/

1. AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence. Waste Management, Recycling & Transportation. https://environment.transportation.org/education/environmental-topics/waste-management-recycling/waste-management-recycling-overview/
2. Springer, S. Waste Management in Transportation: The Present and the Future. https://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/millennium/00145.pdf
3. EPA. (2022). Learn the Basics of Hazardous Waste. https://www.epa.gov/hw/learn-basics-hazardous-waste#generation
4. EPA. (2022). Hazardous Waste Transportation. https://www.epa.gov/hw/hazardous-waste-transportation