The EPA web site also discusses data reliability. Students calculated the mean, standard deviation and 7-number summary for RCRA waste production in their state. The students normalize the RCRA waste generation data by population and the statistical analysis is repeated for the per capita values. However, other examples of normalizations that don't involve people need to be introduced, as many students do not readily grasp the very general applicability of normalization. These are tie-in questions that could be addressed in lecture.
Many types of businesses produce hazardous waste.
Some are small companies such as dry cleaners, auto repair shops, hospitals, and photo processing centers. Others are larger firms which may generate large quantities of hazardous waste, such as chemical manufacturers, electroplating companies, and petroleum refineries. RCRA waste is solid waste assigned a federal hazardous waste code and regulated by RCRA either because it was managed subject to RCRA permitting standards or because it was shipped subject to RCRA hazardous transportation requirements. EPA has a list of specific hazardous wastes, defined by 504 different waste codes. Not all hazardous waste is RCRA waste.