What defines a Small Quantity Generator in hazardous waste management?

A Small Quantity Generator (SQG) in hazardous waste management is defined as a generator that produces under 1,000 kg of hazardous waste on a monthly basis. This classification is significant because it determines the regulatory requirements and standards that apply to the generator.

Generators that meet this threshold enjoy certain regulatory reliefs, such as reduced storage and handling requirements for their hazardous waste. This classification allows SQGs to operate with a lighter regulatory burden compared to larger generators, acknowledging that they produce smaller amounts of hazardous waste and therefore may pose a reduced risk to public health and the environment.

In terms of context, those entities generating less than 100 kg of hazardous waste monthly fall under the Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) category, which has even fewer regulatory requirements. On the other hand, larger generators producing more than 1,000 kg monthly—such as those in the range of 1,000 kg to 5,000 kg—are classified as Large Quantity Generators (LQGs) and face stricter regulatory oversight due to their larger volumes of hazardous waste. Generators that focus solely on recycling hazardous waste on-site are not defined by their waste generation volumes and thus do not fit the standard definitions used for SQGs or larger generators.