The History of Solid Waste Management & Solid Waste Programs

Prior to 1968, there were no rules in Ohio regulating the disposal of solid waste. Unwanted materials were disposed of at open dumps that had no safeguards in place to protect human health and the environment. Open dumps were unsafe and unsanitary and problems with odor, dust, fires, vectors, and other environmental pollutants were common. In 1965, the first federal legislation addressing solid waste management practices was enacted which allowed states to better control trash disposal by requiring the issuance of a license, a plan approval, and appropriate siting criteria. By the mid-1970s, regulatory oversight passed from the Ohio Department of Health to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (Ohio EPA). In 1976, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was enacted which banned open dumping and required record keeping from point of generation to final deposition (called “cradle to grave” regulation).

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act was amended in 1984, and in October 1991 the EPA promulgated rules addressing municipal solid waste sanitary landfills under the Subtitle D program. The 1991 regulations set minimum design and engineering standards and required that facilities meet best available technology. These regulations also required owners to provide proof of financial responsibility for closure and post-closure care.

All solid waste programs are governed by the Ohio EPA rules developed under the authority of H.B. 592, which became effective June 24, 1988. Only local health departments approved by the Ohio EPA can administer these programs.