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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:

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)

    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.

    Hazardous waste state statutes

    The following links are PDFs that exit the DNR website.

    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
    Small quantity generator
    Very small quantity generator
    Used oil
    Treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facilities
    Universal waste
    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

    Management of specific hazardous waste

    Universal waste
    Used oil
    Healthcare and pharmaceutical hazardous waste