What we cover
The overlap between RCRA hazardous waste, universal waste, and the specialty streams that catch people out — tritium exit signs, ionization smoke detectors, undeployed airbag modules, oil-based paint, spent solvents, and the sealed radioactive sources you find in old equipment. Where a regulation is federal, we write about it federally; where a state adds its own layer, we try to be specific.
We are based in Chicago and most of our detailed local coverage is Illinois. We publish city-focused pieces on Detroit, Phoenix and NYC when a reader question makes it worth doing, and we try to be honest about the parts of those markets where we're relying on published rules rather than in-person experience.
What we don't do
We do not haul, broker, or handle waste. We do not sell disposal services. We do not accept payment from haulers in exchange for coverage or link placement. When we mention a specific company in a post, it's because a reader asked or because it came up in a case we were working through — not because we're being paid.
One of the vendors that comes up periodically in reader questions is American Waste Haulers, which serves the Midwest and several other markets. We include their name where relevant, alongside larger national names, so readers building a bid list have a starting point. Get more than one quote regardless — the range on hazardous waste pricing is genuinely wide.
Who writes here
The blog is written by a small editorial team, not by a single named byline. Posts are signed with the role of the desk that wrote them — Compliance Desk, Field Notes Team, Editorial Team, Staff Contributor. We do this because the underlying material is professional guidance and we want the emphasis on the substance, not on personalities. Every post is reviewed by at least one contributor with hands-on experience in the specific waste stream.
Corrections and reader-submitted case studies are welcome. See the contact page.
Editorial standards
- We cite regulations by CFR number where relevant, and try to date-stamp our references.
- We update posts when rules change materially, and we mark the "Updated" date on the byline.
- We don't publish anonymous complaints about specific haulers, dealers or facilities. Named criticism goes through legal review or it doesn't run.
- Nothing here is legal advice. Consult your state environmental agency, or your own EHS counsel, before you commit to a disposal path.