EPA is aware that because of operational slowdowns and shutdowns due to COVID-19 at facilities that generate hazardous waste, there may be some cases where a generator may not be able to remove all hazardous waste from its accumulation areas before operational changes delay that removal past the generator's accumulation time deadline (e.g., 90 days). Hazardous waste generators in a state authorized to implement the hazardous waste rules (i.e., all states except Iowa and Alaska) that are having COVID-19-related difficulties with hazardous waste compliance should reach out as soon as possible to their implementing state to receive guidance on the management of their hazardous waste. Generators must continue to ensure that there are no releases that may pose risk to human health and the environment.

EPA notes that hazardous waste generators may request a 30-day extension to accumulation times due to unforeseen, temporary, and uncontrollable circumstances. These extensions are found in the federal regulations at Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations section 262.16(d) for small quantity generators and section 262.17(b) for large quantity generators, and generators should reach out to their implementing agency to request an extension if needed.

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