Approved by the Energy, Environment, and Water Policy Committee on January 16, 2025 
Approved by the Public Policy and Practice Committee on March 28, 2025
Adopted by the Board of Direction on July 10, 2025 

Policy

The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) supports and encourages:

  • Safe and environmentally sound reduction in the volume of hazardous waste produced in the United States through better utilization of natural resources, the development and implementation of alternative manufacturing procedures and processes, and recovery and reuse of hazardous wastes as resource materials.
  • Legislation that encourages research and development and economic incentives aimed at identifying beneficial reuse applications for hazardous waste.
  • This includes establishing a process by which permission for research and development activities can be granted by the governing federal agency.
  • Stronger collaboration between engineers, regulatory bodies, communities, and industries to foster a culture of shared responsibility.
  • Federal, state, and local programs which foster cooperation in the exchange of information on the recovery and reuse of hazardous wastes as resource materials. 
  • Implementation of federal and state regulations and international treaties to ensure hazardous wastes are properly identified, categorized, packaged, and transported to authorized waste disposal sites adequately designed for containment and prevention of degradation to air, land, surface water and groundwater resources.
  • Incorporate advances in monitoring and containment technologies, such as AI-driven sensors for real-time detection and robotics for hazardous material handling, to reduce human exposure.
  • Encourage the use of digital systems for tracking hazardous material inventory, reporting, and compliance audits to improve efficiency and accuracy.
  • Increase awareness about and access to disposal methods for household hazardous waste.

Issue


The 2025 ASCE Report Card for America’s Infrastructure graded the nation’s hazard waste management as a C. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National Biennial Hazardous Waste Report estimates that 35 more than 32 million tons of hazardous waste was generated in the United States for the 2019 reporting period. According to EPA, approximately 540,000 tons of household hazardous waste is generated each year. The average American household produces approximately 20 pounds of hazardous waste per year. Although the annual quantity of generated hazardous waste has been relatively steady over the last 20 years, the volume of waste and the lack of adequate disposal methods and sites not only escalates disposal costs but poses an increasing threat to the environment and to public health, safety, and welfare. The rapid development of new materials, such as nanomaterials and lithium-ion batteries, is outpacing regulatory frameworks, leaving gaps in safe management practices. The regulatory landscape governing hazardous materials varies widely across local, state, and federal levels, creating inconsistencies in enforcement and compliance. Many hazardous waste disposal sites have been found unsuitable for continued use due to degradation of surrounding surface waters, groundwaters and soils. For many industrial installations remedial cleanup will be required, imposing a large economic burden on the public. The difficulties and costs associated with arranging suitable disposal for many hazardous wastes have led to illegal dumping in waterways, on land, and into wastewater treatment works that serve the public.

Rationale

Hazardous waste encompasses a wide spectrum of substances, production sources and disposal practices. For many substances, appropriate disposal technologies have not been developed. Exposure to hazardous materials can result in acute or chronic health effects, including respiratory issues, cancers, and neurological disorders. Improper handling or accidental releases exacerbate these risks, particularly in densely populated areas. Additionally, spills, leaks, or improper disposal of hazardous materials can contaminate soil, water, and air, causing long-term ecological harm.

In many industrial installations, alternative manufacturing procedures or processes can be installed to concentrate, reduce, or eliminate hazardous waste production at the source. In other cases, hazardous wastes generated from one industrial process can serve as a resource to other industrial processes. Where technology for hazardous waste reduction and reuse is not available, the development of these technologies needs to be encouraged. It is appropriate that regulations and economic incentive programs that consider impacts to the environment be developed and implemented to support the use of existing technology and creation of new technologies for hazardous waste reduction and reuse.

For those hazardous wastes that must be disposed of, it is essential that the wastes be properly handled and that disposal sites be selected and designed to adequately protect the environment and public health, and welfare.

ASCE Policy Statement 331 
First Approved in 1987