WHAT ARE THE RCRA-8 METALS?

RCRA is an acronym for Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. RCRA is a law that creates a framework for proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste.

In order for a waste type to be categorized as a hazardous waste (and regulated as such), it must exhibit at least one of four characteristics: toxicity, ignitability, corrosivity, or reactivity. Heavy metals contribute to toxicity. RCRA lists and monitors a group of eight heavy metals, which are commonly referred to as the RCRA-8. This includes arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, and silver.

Please reference the chart below for the EPA’s allowable limits for each heavy metal as well as the hazardous waste code. If your waste stream contains one of these metals at a concentration above the allowable limit, it will likely be characterized as hazardous by the EPA.

Heavy Metal	EPA Allowable Limits	Hazardous Waste Code
Arsenic	5.0 ppm (mg/L)	D004
Barium	100.0 ppm (mg/L)	D005
Cadmium	1.0 ppm (mg/L)	D006
Chromium	5.0 ppm (mg/L)	D007
Lead	5.0 ppm (mg/L)	D008
Mercury	0.2 ppm (mg/L)	D009
Selenium	1.0 ppm (mg/L)	D010
Silver	5.0 ppm (mg/L)	D011