Do waste management facilities have to accept the waste transported to them?
No, waste management facilities, including landfills and incinerators, do not have to accept the waste transported to them. Therefore, it is very important to know which facilities accept what kind of waste and identify alternate facilities, preferably before an incident occurs. To help ensure that their waste will be accepted during an incident, communities can contact facilities in advance of an incident or, to go a step further, negotiate agreements with waste management facilities to accept waste in the event of an incident. We recommend that communities develop a waste management plan, which includes identifying waste management facilities and possible alternatives, as part of their preparations for an incident. Careful waste management planning by communities can save time and money during an incident.
