When was the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) enacted?

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) was enacted in 1976. This legislation was significant as it established a framework for the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous solid waste. The RCRA was designed to protect human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal and to encourage resource conservation through recycling and waste minimization practices. The timing of its enactment coincided with a growing awareness of environmental issues in the 1970s and the need for a comprehensive approach to waste management. This act has undergone various amendments, particularly in 1986, which expanded regulations regarding waste management, but the original legislation was firmly established in 1976, making this year notable in environmental regulatory history.