Hazardous waste resources
The resources on this page are intended for persons and facilities generating, transporting, storing, treating and disposing of hazardous waste, universal waste and used oil. Please contact the hazardous waste program coordinator for situations not addressed here or for specific technical questions.
Administrative codes and statutes
Hazardous waste administrative codes and statutes
The DNR is corrently working on changes to hazardous waste rules. These changes address:
- Modernizing ignitable liquid determinations [Exit DNR]
- Evaluating, modifying and expanding universal waste regulations [Exit DNR]
- Technical corrections [Exit DNR]
The DNR will provide more information and details about public input opportunites as they become available
Wisconsin's Legislature creates and revises the Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stats.), while state agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources create and revise the rules required and authorized by those statutes. These agency rules constitute the Wisconsin Administrative Code (Wis. Adm. Code). The rules provided below are effective as of Sept. 1, 2020.
The majority of the hazardous waste requirements in state statutes and rules reflect mandates contained in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and federal regulations that Wisconsin hazardous waste rules must reflect.
Current hazardous waste administrative codes (effective Sept. 1, 2020)
- Chapter ATCP 34 [exit DNR] - Clean sweep program
- Chapter NR 140 [exit DNR] - Groundwater quality
- Chapter NR 141 [exit DNR] - Groundwater monitoring well requirements
- Chapter NR 149 [exit DNR] - Laboratory certification and registration
- Chapter NR 150 [exit DNR] - Environmental analysis and review procedures for department actions
- Chapter NR 157 [exit DNR] - Management of PCBs and products containing PCBs
- Chapter NR 150 [exit DNR] - Environmental analysis and review procedures for department actions
- Chapter NR 660 [exit DNR] - Hazardous waste management: general
- Chapter NR 661 [exit DNR] - Hazardous waste identification and listing
- Chapter NR 661 Appendix I [exit DNR] - Representative sampling methods
- Chapter NR 661 Appendix VII [exit DNR] - Basis for listing hazardous waste
- Chapter NR 661 Appendix VIII [exit DNR] - Hazardous constituents
- Chapter NR 662 [exit DNR] - Hazardous waste generator standards
- Chapter NR 663 [exit DNR] - Hazardous waste transporter standards
- Chapter NR 664 [exit DNR] - Hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility standards
- Chapter NR 664 Appendix I [exit DNR] - Recordkeeping instructions
- Chapter NR 664 Appendix IV [exit DNR] - Cochran's approximation to the Behrens-Fisher Students' t-test
- Chapter NR 664 Appendix V [exit DNR] - Examples of potentially incompatible waste
- Chapter NR 664 Appendix IX [exit DNR] - Groundwater monitoring list
- Chapter NR 665 [exit DNR] - Interim license hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility standards
- Chapter NR 665 Appendix I [exit DNR] - Recordkeeping instructions
- Chapter NR 665 Appendix III [exit DNR] - EPA interim primary drinking water standards
- Chapter NR 665 Appendix IV [exit DNR] - Tests for significance
- Chapter NR 665 Appendix V [exit DNR] - Examples of potentially incompatible waste
- Chapter NR 665 Appendix VI [exit DNR] - Compounds with Henry's law constant less than 0.1 Y/X
- Chapter NR 666 [exit DNR] - Standards for managing specific hazardous wastes and specific types of hazardous waste management facilities
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix I [exit DNR] - Tier I and Tier II feed rate and emissions screening limits for metals
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix II [exit DNR] - Tier I and Tier II feed rate screening limits for total chlorine
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix III [exit DNR] - Tier II emission rate screening limits for free chlorine and hydrogen chloride
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix IV [exit DNR] - Reference air concentrations
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix V [exit DNR] - Risk specific doses (10-5)
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix VI [exit DNR] - Stack plume rise
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix VII [exit DNR] - Health-based limits for exclusion of waste-derived residues
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix VIII [exit DNR] - Organic compounds for which residues shall be analyzed
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix IX [exit DNR] - Methods manual for compliance with the Bif rules
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix XI [exit DNR] - Lead-bearing materials that may be processed in exempt lead smelters
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix XII [exit DNR] - Nickel or chromium-bearing materials that may be processed in exempt nickel-chromium recovery furnaces
- Chapter NR 666 Appendix XIII [exit DNR] - Mercury bearing wastes that may be processed in exempt mercury recovery units
- Chapter NR 668 [exit DNR] - Hazardous waste land disposal restrictions
- Chapter NR 668 Appendix III [exit DNR] - List of halogenated organic compounds regulated under s. NR 668.32
- Chapter NR 668 Appendix IV [exit DNR] - Wastes excluded from lab packs under the alternative treatment standards of s. NR 668.42(3)
- Chapter NR 668 Appendix VI [exit DNR] - Recommended technologies to achieve deactivation of characteristics in s. NR 668.42
- Chapter NR 668 Appendix VII [exit DNR] - LDR effective dates of surface disposed prohibited hazardous wastes
- Chapter NR 668 Appendix IX [exit DNR] - Extraction procedure (EP) toxicity test method and structural integrity test (method 1310)
- Chapter NR 668 Appendix XI [exit DNR] - Metal bearing wastes prohibited from dilution in a combustion unit according to s. NR 668.03(3)
- Chapter NR 670 [exit DNR] - Hazardous waste licensing and decisionmaking procedures
- Chapter NR 670 Appendix I [exit DNR] - Classification of license modification
- Chapter NR 670 Appendix II [exit DNR] - Hazardous waste fee table
- Chapter NR 673 [exit DNR] - Universal waste management standards
- Chapter NR 679 [exit DNR] - Used oil management standards
Proposed rules
Public participation is a critical component of agency rulemaking and we value your involvement in DNR's rulemaking activities. There are numerous opportunities for you to participate in the DNR rulemaking process.
- Learn about the DNR's rulemaking process and public input opportunities.
- View the current rulemaking status of proposed permanent rules.
- View the current rulemaking status of proposed emergency rules.
Hazardous waste state statutes
The following links are PDFs that exit the DNR website.
- Chapter 291, Wis. Stats. - Hazardous waste management
- Chapter 292, Wis. Stats. - Remedial action
- Chapter 299, Wis. Stats. - General environmental provisions
Inspection forms
Hazardous waste inspection forms
The DNR conducts compliance inspection at facilities generating hazardous waste and follows up on complaints. A best management practice for facilities is to conduct a self-audit using the DNR inspection forms below. The forms titled “Plain Language Inspection Form” are intended to provide streamlined regulatory requirements with simplified language when possible.
Large quantity generator
- Large Quantity Generator Inspection Form [PDF]
- Large Quantity Generator Plain Language Inspection Form [PDF] (new in 2023)
- Large Quantity Generator Inspection - Subch. BB Air Emission Standards [PDF]
- Large Quantity Generator Inspection - Subch. CC Air Emission Standards [PDF]
- Large Quantity Generator Inspection - Tanks [PDF]
Small quantity generator
- Small Quantity Generator Inspection [PDF]
- Small Quantity Generator Plain Language Inspection Form [PDF] (new in 2023)
Very small quantity generator
- Very Small Quantity Generator Inspection [PDF]
- Very Small Quantity Generator Plain Language Inspection Form [PDF] (new in 2023)
Used oil
- Used Oil Generator - Nonhazardous Waste Handler [PDF] - Inspection Form
- Used Oil - Transporter & Transfer Facilities [PDF] - Inspection Form
- Used Oil - Processors & Re-Refiners [PDF] - Inspection Form
- Used Oil - Processors & Re-Refiners [PDF] - Reporting Form
- Used Oil - Burning Off -Specification Used Oil for Energy Recovery [PDF] - Inspection Form
- Used Oil - Marketers [PDF] - Inspection Form
Treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities
- Treatment and Storage Facility Inspection Form [PDF]
- Treatment & Storage Facility Inspection - Subch. AA & BB Standards for Closed-Vent Systems and Control Devices (Process Vents and Equipment Leaks) [PDF]
- Treatment & Storage Facility Inspection Subch. BB Requirements for Equipment Leaks [PDF]
- Treatment & Storage Facility Inspection Subch. CC Level 2 & 3 Requirements for Containers & Tanks [PDF]
- Treatment & Storage Facility Inspection - Tank Systems [PDF]
Universal waste
- Universal Waste Handler Inspection Report - Large Quantity Handler [PDF]
- Universal Waste Handler Inspection Report - Small Quantity Handler [PDF]
Other hazardous waste facilities
Guidance
The DNR has created the following documents to help people and facilities comply with hazardous waste requirements.
Please note: The DNR is the process of revising several guidance documents to incorporate new administrative rules that took effect Sept. 1, 2020. If you have questions about whether a guidance document you have is still applicable, contact your regional hazardous waste specialist.
General hazardous waste requirements
- Closed Container Guidance for Hazardous Waste Generators (WA-1342)
- Closure of LQG Hazardous Waste Accumulation Units and LQG Facilities (WA-1892) (revised in 2022)
- Common Hazardous Waste Violations (WA-850)
- Container and Tank Labeling and Marking (WA-1903)
- Episodic Generation of Hazardous Waste (WA-1872)
- Hazardous Waste Manifests: A Guide for Hazardous Waste Generators (WA-1176)
- Hazardous Waste Program Policy on Continued Use (WA-1594)
- Hazardous Waste Tanks (WA-1894) (new in 2022)
- Household Hazardous Waste Management Guide (WA-1719)
- LQG Consolidation of VSQG Hazardous Waste (WA-1870)
- LQG Contingency Plan Requirements (WA-1904) (new in 2022)
- LQG Inspection Process (WA-1869)
- Quick Reference Guide: Hazardous Waste Generator Regulatory Requirements (WA-1821)
- Satellite Accumulation Areas (WA-1858)
- Small Quantity Generator Responsibilities (WA-294)
- SQG Inspection Process (WA-1869)
- Training Requirements and Records: Hazardous Waste Generators, Collection Sites and TSD Facilities (WA-099)
- Transporting Hazardous Waste (WA-137)
- Very Small Quantity Generator Responsibilities (WA-295)
- VSQG Inspection Process (WA-1869)
- Waste Determinations and Recordkeeping (WA-1152) (revised in 2023)
- Fillable PDF version of Waste Determination checklist (new in 2023)
Management of specific hazardous waste
- Aerosol Can Management (WA-1784)
- Automotive Airbag Exemptions(WA-1530)
- Dry Cleaner Operations (WA-1893) (new in 2022)
- Management of Solvent-Contaminated Wipes (WA-1207) (revised in 2023)
- Commercial and Residential Paint Removal and Disposal (WA-173) (revised in 2022)
- Products Containing Mercury: Restrictions and Exemptions (WA-1861) (new in 2022)
- Nicotine Wastes: E-cigarettes and Vaping Devices Collected by Schools and Institutions (WA-1899) (new in 2022)
- Roadway Vehicle Spills (WA-1923) (new in 2022)
- Solvent Continued Use (WA-1594) (revised in 2023)
- Spray Painting and Coating Operations (WA-299)
- Vehicle Maintenance and Repair (WA-1578)
- Waiver: 50-foot Setback for Accumulation of Ignitable or Reactive Hazardous Wastes (WA-1871)
Universal waste
- How to Handle Universal Waste (WA-1798)
- How to Handle Universal Waste: Batteries (WA-1809)
- How to Handle Universal Waste: Lamps (WA-1810)
- How to Handle Universal Waste: Mercury-Containing Equipment (WA-1811)
- How to Handle Universal Waste: Pesticides (WA-1812)
- Lamp and Bulb Management (WA-195)
- Universal Waste Requirements (WA-1900)
Used oil
- Burning Used Oil in a Space Heater (WA-1003)
- Used Oil Management (WA-233) (revised in 2023)
- Used Oil Management: Satisfying the Rebuttable Presumption (WA-1677) (revised in 2023)
- Used Oil Processor or Re-Refiner Biennial Report (Form 4400-193)
Healthcare and pharmaceutical hazardous waste
- Healthcare Facilities: Definitions (WA-1214) (revised in 2022)
- Healthcare Facilities: Pharmaceutical Wastes and Subchapter P (WA-1902) (new in 2022)
- Collecting Unwanted Household Pharmaceuticals (WA-1024) (under revision)
- Managing Chemotherapy Waste (WA-1258)
- Pharmaceutical Waste: Empty Containers (WA-1256) (revised in 2022)
- Self-Audit Checklist (LQGs) (WA-1263)
- Self-Audit Checklist (SQGs) (WA-1264)
- Self-Audit Checklist (VSQGs) (WA-1265)
- Health Care Initiative Fact Sheet: Table of Common Wastes in Health Care (WA-1259)