40 CFR 261 — Identification & Listing of Hazardous Waste

What counts as hazardous waste — the start of every HW determination. 83 sections, full current text (eCFR edition 2026-07-15), each cross-linked to the AF pubs that cite it.

SectionTitleAF citations
261.1Purpose and scope.
261.2Definition of solid waste.4 × 1 pubs
261.3Definition of hazardous waste.9 × 4 pubs
261.4Exclusions.
261.6Requirements for recyclable materials.4 × 1 pubs
261.7Residues of hazardous waste in empty containers.
261.8PCB wastes regulated under Toxic Substance Control Act.
261.9Requirements for Universal Waste.
261.10Criteria for identifying the characteristics of hazardous waste.
261.11Criteria for listing hazardous waste.
261.20General.
261.21Characteristic of ignitability.1 × 1 pubs
261.22Characteristic of corrosivity.
261.23Characteristic of reactivity.
261.24Toxicity characteristic.
261.30General.
261.31Hazardous wastes from non-specific sources.
261.32Hazardous wastes from specific sources.
261.33Discarded commercial chemical products, off-specification species, container residues, and spill residues thereof.2 × 1 pubs
261.35Deletion of certain hazardous waste codes following equipment cleaning and replacement.
261.39Conditional Exclusion for Used, Broken Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) and Processed CRT Glass Undergoing Recycling.
261.40Conditional Exclusion for Used, Intact Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) Exported for Recycling.
261.41Notification and Recordkeeping for Used, Intact Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) Exported for Reuse.
261.140Applicability.
261.141Definitions of terms as used in this subpart.
261.142Cost estimate.
261.143Financial assurance condition.
261.147Liability requirements.
261.148Incapacity of owners or operators, guarantors, or financial institutions.
261.149Use of State-required mechanisms.
261.150State assumption of responsibility.
261.151Wording of the instruments.
261.170Applicability.
261.171Condition of containers.
261.172Compatibility of hazardous secondary materials with containers.
261.173Management of containers.
261.175Containment.
261.176Special requirements for ignitable or reactive hazardous secondary material.
261.177Special requirements for incompatible materials.
261.179Air emission standards.
261.190Applicability.
261.191Assessment of existing tank system's integrity.
261.193Containment and detection of releases.
261.194General operating requirements.
261.196Response to leaks or spills and disposition of leaking or unfit-for-use tank systems.
261.197Termination of remanufacturing exclusion.
261.198Special requirements for ignitable or reactive materials.
261.199Special requirements for incompatible materials.
261.200Air emission standards.
261.400Applicability.
261.410Preparedness and prevention.
261.411Emergency procedures for facilities generating or accumulating 6000 kg or less of hazardous secondary material.
261.420Contingency planning and emergency procedures for facilities generating or accumulating more than 6,000 kg of hazardous secondary material or receiving ignitable spent refrigerants
261.1030Applicability.
261.1031Definitions.
261.1032Standards: Process vents.
261.1033Standards: Closed-vent systems and control devices.
261.1034Test methods and procedures.
261.1035Recordkeeping requirements.
261.1050Applicability.
261.1051Definitions.
261.1052Standards: Pumps in light liquid service.
261.1053Standards: Compressors.
261.1054Standards: Pressure relief devices in gas/vapor service.
261.1055Standards: Sampling connection systems.
261.1056Standards: Open-ended valves or lines.
261.1057Standards: Valves in gas/vapor service or in light liquid service.
261.1058Standards: Pumps and valves in heavy liquid service, pressure relief devices in light liquid or heavy liquid service, and flanges and other connectors.
261.1059Standards: Delay of repair.
261.1060Standards: Closed-vent systems and control devices.
261.1061Alternative standards for valves in gas/vapor service or in light liquid service: percentage of valves allowed to leak.
261.1062Alternative standards for valves in gas/vapor service or in light liquid service: skip period leak detection and repair.
261.1063Test methods and procedures.
261.1064Recordkeeping requirements.
261.1080Applicability.
261.1081Definitions.
261.1082Standards: General.
261.1083Material determination procedures.
261.1084Standards: tanks.
261.1086Standards: containers.
261.1087Standards: Closed-vent systems and control devices.
261.1088Inspection and monitoring requirements.
261.1089Recordkeeping requirements.
Unofficial reference aid. Confirm against the current eCFR edition before citing in a finding.
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