We protect human health and the environment by ensuring responsible national management of hazardous and nonhazardous waste.
Individual states adopt federal standards and operate their own waste management programs.
Besides states, OSW works closely with industry, environmental groups, tribes, and the concerned public to promote safe waste management. We work to assure the safe management of nonhazardous household, industrial, and mining wastes . Because everyone shares responsibility for reducing and managing these wastes, OSW's policies rely heavily on national voluntary and educational programs . We promote and encourage the use of combined methods to manage solid waste. They can be viewed, and printed, with the use of an Adobe Acrobat Reader.