Skip to main content

Hazardous Waste

Hazardous Waste Section

The Vermont Hazardous Waste Section regulates the generation, transportation, storage, treatment, recycling and disposal of hazardous waste, used oil, and universal hazardous waste. The program, which is authorized by the US EPA to be implemented in lieu of the federal hazardous waste program, maintains the Vermont Hazardous Waste Management Regulations (VHWMR). The program conducts inspections to evaluate compliance and responds to citizens' complaints regarding the mishandling of hazardous waste, tracks hazardous waste manifests (shipping records) to ensure all hazardous wastes are delivered to appropriate facilities, issues permits to facilities that engage in long-term or commercial storage and facilities that treat or dispose of hazardous waste, provides regulatory assistance, and tracks hazardous waste data.

Example of a Satellite Storage Area


What is a Hazardous Waste?

Hazardous waste is waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment. Hazardous characteristics include ignitability, corrosivity, reactivity, and toxicity. A hazardous waste is considered to have been “generated” when it is put into a container for disposal or a determination has been made that the material is no longer useable. Hazardous wastes managed in the course of running a business, including wastes from municipalities and from businesses operated out of a home, are regulated by the VHWMR.


Important Program News and Links:

Please be aware that we are actively in the process of updating our webpage to reflect the changes to the VHWMR, effective February 1, 2022.  We greatly appreciate your patience as we make necessary changes.