Hazardous waste guidance and inspection forms
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.
Guidance
The DNR has created the following documents to help people and facilities comply with hazardous waste requirements.
Please note: The DNR revises guidance documents on a regular basis to address policy or rule updates. If you have questions about whether a guidance document is still applicable, contact your regional hazardous waste specialist.
Documents referring to management of used antifreeze are being updated. Used antifreeze should be managed under the NR 679 used oil requirements.
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)
- Collection Facilities: Household and Very Small Quantity Generator Hazardous Wastes (WA-2023) (new in 2024)
- Common Hazardous Waste Violations (WA-850)
- Container and Tank Labeling and Marking (WA-1903)
- Episodic Generation of Hazardous Waste (WA-1872)
- Fillable Episodic Generation Event Checklist (new in 2023)
- Hazardous Secondary Materials and the Generator-Based Exclusion (WA-2033) (new in 2024)
- Hazardous Secondary Materials Transfer-Based Exclusion (WA-2034) (new in 2024)
- 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)
- Legitimate Recycling and Speculative Accumulation of Hazardous Wastes (WA-2032) (new in 2023)
- 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)
- Management of Solvent-Contaminated Wipes (WA-1207) (revised in 2023)
- Managing Used Electronics and Components: Requirements for Electronics Collection, Storage, Transportation, Recycling and Reuse (WA-1307)
- Managing Used Solar Panels and Components: Guidance for Solar Panel Collection, Storage, Transportation, Recycling and Disposal (WA-2038) (new in 2024)
- Commercial and Residential Paint Removal and Disposal (WA-173)
- 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)
- Roadway Vehicle Spills (WA-1923)
- 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) (revised in 2023)
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)
- Health Care Initiative Fact Sheet: Table of Common Wastes in Health Care (WA-1259)
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]